By Irene Ramirez and Elisabeth Martinez
Due to COVID-19, there are many questions seniors at CSUSB have as to what’s next after graduation. The Career Center has been hosting workshops to help students figure out the next step.
The Career Center is a service provided for students and alumni that seeks to provide new opportunities, networking and lifelong skills for the ever changing job market. They have a variety of professional counselors—as well students, peers and assistants—that are always there to help. Career Counselors can help with:
- Major & career exploration
- Career & educational planning
- Resumes, cover letters, & CV’s
- Job & internship search
- Networking
- Graduate school preparation
- LinkedIn profile building
- Interview skills & practice
- Salary negotiation
Career counselor Oscar Fonseca said “The Career Center is open and encourages students to make an appointment, we know there are many questions students have and we are here to answer them.”
Making an appointment is a three step process: first, log in to your mycoyote and select the employment opportunities icon. Second, click the Handshake icon, complete and save your profile. The third step is from your Handshake profile, select the Career Center tab and select appointments.
Valentina Felix, a career counselor, shared that, “Apart from making appointments with career counselors, students and alumni can attend virtual workshops and view past workshops that have already happened.”
There are powerpoints available for the past workshop series, as well as information for future workshops. The tab careers, jobs and internship resources during COVID-19 on the career center website has important links for job resources.
Onward.org is a resource for people in California impacted by job loss during the pandemic. Employment opportunities are also available through the website TakeLessons where people can get paid to provide online lessons. Visit the career center page on the CSUSB website for more information and resources.
The “What’s Next After Graduation” webinar, presented by Fonseca on May 19, introduced many resource possibilities for graduating students. During Fonesca’s presentation, he addressed the focus on things we do have control over in our academic success, such as time management and arranging a time to meet with a career counselor to discuss realistic options. Fonseca provided breaks in between his discussion to help answer any questions students might have.
Senior Angelica Rodriguez commented, “With everything going on I’m nervous I won’t be able to find an internship.”
Fonseca encouraged her to schedule an appointment with him to provide her with more information.
He introduced to the audience how the Career Center has a partnership with virtual internships and is in contact with other communications departments. Participants were informed by Felix that the Career Center will be hosting a virtual career fair on May 28, from 9 a.m.-5pm.
Felix shared that she can help guide students to job resources, remote work and internships. “
I am definitely going to take advantage of the online resources and schedule a session with an adviser,” said Rodriguez.
Learning the uses of the Career Center will strengthen seniors and students who are trying to gather information on future career paths. Students and Alumni are encouraged to reach out to counselors and the Career Center website to better assist them.
Direct Link to Career Center resource
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