By Yi-Fang Vicky Lin
On-line Forty-Niner

The Career Development Center’s busiest season begins with increasing students seeking help as graduation approaches.
 
The center prepares graduates to start their future career by providing various types of services including resume review, job-searching techniques, interview-skills, networking strategies and one-on-one counseling. Services are available through various workshops or by walk-in basis.
 
“This is just about the time that we see the increase,” said Hal Schaffer, Career Development Counselor. “Final exams and graduation things are getting straightened out, it’s time for students to start looking for jobs.”
 
Besides the graduates planning to find jobs, many students who are looking for summer employments and internship opportunities also have began seeking professional helps from the center, Robert Wendt, career counselor, said.
 
“We just serve more people with the same staff we have, but we understand that toward the end of year is a very busy time for us,” Wendt said.
 
The center offers a free campus service for Cal State Long Beach students for preparation of resume writing, job-hunting techniques or any job-related assistances. Students are also entitled to 90-day free service from center after the graduation.
 
Both Schaffer and Wendt strongly encourage students to develop various experiences outside of classes such as joining student associations, organizations, volunteer work, internships, and part/full-time jobs before graduation. With extra-curriculum experiences, students’ employment opportunities in current job market are enhanced.
 
“A person with a lot of experience is unbeatable. A person without experience is beatable,” said Schaffer. “Combination of in-class learning and out-class learning experiences make a student a more competitive person in term of looking for a job.”
 
Another important factor students must be aware of is networking, Schaffer and Wendt said. Wendt said networking is a key to success and the most effective way to find a job.
 
“For those who think the Internet is the best way [to obtain a job], it’s not,” Wendt said. “Only 15 percent of jobs were found through the Internet. If one is spending their time on the Internet, they are putting a 100 percent effort into 15 percent of the success.”
 
Good ways to build networking connections for students include participating in all kinds of organizations, activities, attending professional, local, regional, national conferences, Wendt said.

The simplest way to build up networking for students begins at personal level, Schaffer said. Network of people began with the family members, students and faculty members you know, people in professional association, he added.
 
Eric Jin, a graduate student, explained the reasons for him meeting with a Career Development Center counselor.
 
“I’m here to seek for professional advises on the resume writing and job hunting skills,” Jin said.
 
The center will hold its Diversity Career Expo today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at University Student Union Ballroom. Various workshops and employers will provide students with employment opportunities and information.

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