Eastern’s Career Services wrapped up Career Week with free pizza and interview tips at their Advice with a Slice event on Sept. 29 in the Career Services Library.
Although this event was the first of the semester, Career Services has hosted this event seven to nine times within the past year.
From 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Bobbi Kingery, the director of Career Services, and Career Counselor Diana Taylor were available to answer any questions students may have regarding anything career related.
The event served as casual drop-in hours for students to receive advice in a more relaxed environment than an office.
Kingery described the event’s purpose by stating that, “Advice with a Slice was really meant to be a drop in event. Maybe taking the pressure off of students who were scared to make an appointment.”
Two students attended the event and took advantage of the free pizza and advice that Kingery and Taylor were offering.
During the event, Taylor and Kingery shared what Career Services has to offer and ways to prepare for interviews.
Career Services provides mock interviews for students to prepare for real interviews with future employers.
Taylor shared with the students that during interviews, you should never lie or answer the way you think they would want. She also stated that networking is very important. Going to career fairs and practicing talking to employers now can be very beneficial to students’ future.
They also mentioned that reaching out for informational interviews can be very helpful. These interviews should be about 10 to 15 minutes, during which you ask for information about their business, and not ask for a job. If the company likes you, they may keep talking to you and offer you a job when a position opens up, or give you a recommendation at another company.
Kingery stated that joining Eastern alumni groups on LinkedIn can be helpful during job searches.
She also said that sharing your job search with others, such as your dentist or hair stylist, can help you network. Sharing this information with people who talk and meet several people a day, can help you connect with those who can further your career.
Taylor recalled that “It went like it has always done. We’ve had about the same amount of students that we normally do. It was nice because these events are open ended so that you can ask whatever type of question you want. It doesn’t have to be geared towards one thing or another.”
Career services provides career related assistance to all Eastern students, especially incoming freshman or transfer students that are not quite sure what career path they would like to follow. Career Services can help students find a major and minor that fits their skills and future needs.
“It’s not a one and done kind of office,” Kingery said. “It’s a come in, tell us where you want to go, what you’re thinking you want to do. We’ll talk to you and identify what skills that employers need and we can help you create a plan to put yourself in the best position possible before you graduate.”
Having both Kingery and Taylor at the event provided two perspectives from people with different backgrounds and experiences to allow the students to get well-versed advice.
Since every industry is different, the career advice surrounding each career path is different.
Kingery stated that when she is advising a student, she will often suggest that the student books an appointment with one of her coworkers as well, to receive a different perspective.
“I think it is great for students to hear valid opinions and then decide what fits for them,” Kingery said. “I think we’ve really set up an environment where hopefully students are comfortable doing that.”
Kingery then went on to say that the department is very dedicated to helping students find the career and major that is meant for them.
“The thing that I insist [Career Services] have is the desire to help students,” Kingery said. “That’s a critical thing. There’s no need for us if we don’t have you, and we don’t have other students. I will never hire anyone who isn’t excited about working with students.”
Career Services will be hosting their next Advice with a Slice on Oct. 27.
Audra Gullquist can be reached at 581-2812 or at agullquist@eiu.edu.
