Currently, the unemployment rate for recent graduates in the United States is 8.5 percent. Career Services is making it one of their primary goals to help Sonoma State University students beat that unemployment statistic.

Sonoma State Career Services will be hosting an Internship Exploration Workshop on Nov. 19 as a resource for students entering the career world.

The event will take place in the Career Services Center, Salazar 1070, from 1-2 p.m. The main goal of the event is to help students beat the odds against unemployment and learn tips and tricks to make themselves desirable to employers once they graduate.

Career advisers will be available to answer questions students may have focusing on internships as well as how they can begin to search for a job following graduation.

There are some majors on campus that require students to complete a certain number of hours of an internship before graduation.

However, even students with those specific majors that don’t require it, should take the time to look into completing an internship. Having an internship gives students a better perspective, which often sets students apart from others when they send in an application.

Ann Mansfield, a Career Services adviser, hopes this event will become an annual event on campus. Students can sign up for it at the Career Services Center leading up to the day before the event.

“It’s free, but signing up is recommended because space is limited,” said Mansfield.

Along with the Career Services department, Enterprise Rent-A-Car will be in attendance to answer questions students may have. They will discuss what they want in future employees as well as what internships can provide for students. Junior Nikki Lougee is looking forward this event.

“I’m trying to get a communications internship for next semester, so I’m really hoping to learn more information on how to get one at this event,” said Lougee.

Career Services does their part to make themselves an active resource on campus for students to utilize and to get the information they need regarding their future employment. They are the bridge that connects Sonoma State students to the outside world when it comes time to finding a job post-graduation.

They provide services to students to help them find future employment, give them guidance on graduate school and simply attain their life or career goals.

At the Career Services Center, students can find peer advisers who are able to help as well.

There are numerous peer advisers whose job is specifically to be there for Sonoma State stu- dents and help them in finding a career path that best suits them.

Career Service’s website, sonoma.edu/career, provides students with many resourceful links that they can use to help them.

These range from how to write a successful résumé and cover letter, to strategic tips for finding a job.

The website also provides students with further information on their major, what career paths are possible with that major and what type of an employer a student could expect with having that major.

It gives a wide variety of answers and information that students may find helpful when it comes to researching their further careers.

Students who are interested in attending the Career and Internship Fair should mark their cal- endars for Nov. 19 and sign up at the Career Ser- vices Center.