Ask A Seawolf Anything ft. The Career Center
Your career journey has already begun! When you are in need of resume assistance, looking for jobs or internships, or just need to speak with someone about your future career you can always count on our SSU Career Center! Check out this recap of our Q & A our Seawolf Living team did on Instagram
Q. What is the Career Center?
A. The Career Center is a place for students to get career support! Career support includes many different things - but the big two areas we help students with: figuring out WHAT you want to do when you graduate, and HOW to get there.
Q. How do you help students plan for their future?
A. The Career Center provides 1:1 career advising, workshops, career fairs, and lots more resources for students like you and I! Common topics they help students with on are: major and career exploration, resumes, interview skills, and graduate school. They truly are very holistic and individualized in their approach, so they work with each student to figure out what they need as an individual.
Q. Where is it?
A. We are located in International Hall 107. While we are remote this upcoming semester though, we are still available! We are offering all of our same services, just virtually. Students can schedule an appointment on LoboConnect, and can find some great resources on our Career Center website and through our canvas toolkit.
Q. Can freshmen go to the Career Center?
A. Yes!! A common misconception about the Career Center is that it’s only for seniors. We help ALL students. The earlier you utilize the Career Center, the better. Students who visit us early are more likely to develop clear career goals, understand how their major and academic experience ties in, and ultimately, feel more prepared and confident when they are preparing to graduate.
Q. Do I have to make an appointment?
A. In the summer, yes, but not during the academic year. During fall & spring semesters, we offer drop-in hours, which we will host on Zoom this upcoming semester. Drop-ins are up to 20 minutes long and will be offered Tuesdays & Thursdays from 11am - 1pm this Fall. However, it’s easy to schedule an appointment, so whichever is best for you!
Q. Will you help me find a job/what can you help me with?
A. Yes! Job searching is one of the most common topics we support students with. This includes full-time jobs, internships, part-time jobs and seasonal work. Other career topics we help students with include: resumes, cover letters, interviews, graduate school, major exploration, self-assessing values/interests/skills to get ideas about career paths you might like!
Q. Can you help me decide on a major?
A. Of course! We can help you explore what you might want to do after college. Once we do this we can help you figure out a major you might want to study! We can help you find an academic advisor who can help you complete the paperwork necessary to change your major.
Q. Will you be on campus in fall 2020?
A. We are happy to meet with you in a remote appointment using Zoom. You are welcome to call in or use a video camera to have any of your career appointments. Schedule an appointment online.
Q. What's a Career Fair?
A. A Career Fair is a recruiting event in which employers and recruiters meet with potential employees and where job seekers find more about job openings at potential employers. It also is a great event for students who are exploring a career path to go and learn more about what the world of work might look like.
Q. How do I work on campus?
A. Great question! You can always find on-campus employment opportunities on Handshake. When searching, you can enter Sonoma State University in the Keyword or try entering On-Campus in the Job Type function. You can complete and submit your applications on Handshake and chat with the hiring department. This year will be a little different, since many jobs on-campus won’t be possible with remote instruction, however, there are still many jobs available. Some have changed to remote positions, and some may have different types of administrative responsibilities. Make sure to read the descriptions and check in with the hiring supervisor to see if it is a fit!
Q. I don't have a resume, can I come to you for help on starting it?
A. Of course! A great place to start is our Resume Guide. This will give you an overview of what to include with some samples to follow and formatting tips. It is helpful to have a first draft when you connect with a career advisor who can give you tailored feedback. Any time in the process, you can schedule with our team on LoboConnect for a 1-1 appointment.
Q. What advice would you share with a First Year Student who is just beginning their career journey?
A. We are so excited to meet you! You are already on your career journey, so come early and often. Each year that you study at Sonoma State, there are different key career skills and outcomes that you should focus on. Our online tools and resources are available to help you navigate what professional skills to focus on. In addition, you may be undeclared or undecided about your major! We have a really fun online assessment tool called Focus2Career that can help you start exploring what might be a good fit for you. Once you are clear on some potential career paths, you can start trying them out with work experience, informational interviews, or internships!