Spring Break
Career Services determined to help
Office stays strong in economic decline
Jessica Leggin / Campus Editor
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News
Eastern's Career Services wants students to be aware of the changes in the economy and take action so they are able to secure themselves a space in the workforce.
Linda Moore, director of Career Services, said students do not have four years to get themselves together.
"A freshman has about two-and-a-half years to get their qualifications in line in order for them to be recruited for a job," she said. "Eighty-five percent of jobs are filled by November of their senior year."
Moore said because of the severity of the economy, Career Services has made some adjustments to help students.
"We knew for about a year and half that companies were cutting positions," she said. "We have been preparing students for this."
Career Services provides job leads for students, and has gone into its system to delete employers who have not updated their job listings, Moore said.
"Employers have been bad at keeping their listings up to date because they are laying people off," she said.
Career Services has also tripled its cover letter workshops, Moore said.
"This has been very effective," she said. "I have done more of these workshops in the month of January then I would have done in the whole year."
During the economic decline, Moore said students have been responsive to the opportunities Career Services offer.
"I am very impressed how our students have responded to this crisis," she said. "They are being very active."
Moore said the new fall program "Career Boot Camp" received a large response from students.
This all-day workshop gave students the opportunity to polish their job search skills and to network with alumni.
"This was probably our most successful program," Moore said. "It filled the first Tuesday of the academic year by 80 students, and the program started at 9:30 in the morning till 4 p.m. Now what does that tell you about our students?"
Moore said students can take advantage of other tools Career Services offer, such as an interview stream that allows students to brush up on their interviewing skills.
"It's a phenomenal tool to know the questions and how you sound," said Moore. "Good way to practice gaining strong interview skills."
Students registered with Career Services are able to gain access to a Web site called "Vault Guides," which allows students to be informed about careers, internships, graduate school and job companies.
"This Web site tells you who the top employers are, and they let you know the tough interview questions and then give you the answers," she said. "It is available 24/7."
Students who want to register for Career Services are required to pay a $30 fee that lasts through Aug. 31 of their graduate year.
Moore said students not registered should still take advantage of the opportunities Career Services provides.
"Go to your career adviser because seeing one can help you avoid training for a field you end up not liking," she said. "Why not go to a career counselor that can help you. That's how people get ahead, by using resources."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
Linda Moore, director of Career Services, said students do not have four years to get themselves together.
"A freshman has about two-and-a-half years to get their qualifications in line in order for them to be recruited for a job," she said. "Eighty-five percent of jobs are filled by November of their senior year."
Moore said because of the severity of the economy, Career Services has made some adjustments to help students.
"We knew for about a year and half that companies were cutting positions," she said. "We have been preparing students for this."
Career Services provides job leads for students, and has gone into its system to delete employers who have not updated their job listings, Moore said.
"Employers have been bad at keeping their listings up to date because they are laying people off," she said.
Career Services has also tripled its cover letter workshops, Moore said.
"This has been very effective," she said. "I have done more of these workshops in the month of January then I would have done in the whole year."
During the economic decline, Moore said students have been responsive to the opportunities Career Services offer.
"I am very impressed how our students have responded to this crisis," she said. "They are being very active."
Moore said the new fall program "Career Boot Camp" received a large response from students.
This all-day workshop gave students the opportunity to polish their job search skills and to network with alumni.
"This was probably our most successful program," Moore said. "It filled the first Tuesday of the academic year by 80 students, and the program started at 9:30 in the morning till 4 p.m. Now what does that tell you about our students?"
Moore said students can take advantage of other tools Career Services offer, such as an interview stream that allows students to brush up on their interviewing skills.
"It's a phenomenal tool to know the questions and how you sound," said Moore. "Good way to practice gaining strong interview skills."
Students registered with Career Services are able to gain access to a Web site called "Vault Guides," which allows students to be informed about careers, internships, graduate school and job companies.
"This Web site tells you who the top employers are, and they let you know the tough interview questions and then give you the answers," she said. "It is available 24/7."
Students who want to register for Career Services are required to pay a $30 fee that lasts through Aug. 31 of their graduate year.
Moore said students not registered should still take advantage of the opportunities Career Services provides.
"Go to your career adviser because seeing one can help you avoid training for a field you end up not liking," she said. "Why not go to a career counselor that can help you. That's how people get ahead, by using resources."
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Saluki Maroon
posted 2/12/09 @ 7:57 PM CST
It helps when your career services director isn't under investigation for violating a federal law by lying about his military history...
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