Students go to school in order to gain a degree and be able to pursue their future career. 

Part of obtaining a career is being able to utilize the skills you have and apply them in the work field.  Resume building and prepping for interviews requires some help and practice.

Career Services at Sonoma State University offers help in many possible career paths. 

“[Career Services is an] on-campus resource where students can develop professional acumen,” said business accounting major Monica Lopez. “[We help] assist students in preparing for life outside of school by connecting employers to students.” 

Career Services encourages students to be active participants in the career development process. 

They help prepare students to make informed decisions regarding their future by providing resources, including career advising, job search strategies, resume and cover letter review, along with other career related services.

 On Oct. 26 at 2 p.m. Career Services will be conducting mock interviews. 

“A mock interview is a practice interview that is geared toward helping students strengthen their interviewing skills, professional confidence, and overall professional development,” said communication and media studies major Jenna Valle-Riestra. 

According to a press release, Career Services has invited real-world employers and recruiters to sit with students, conduct a mock interview, and provide immediate feedback.

“I did it two years ago and I think it’s a really good experience. They ask you realistic questions, and the advice they give you isreally helpful,” said criminal justice major Adriana Avalos. 

According to Lopez there’s 10 employers. Students will go to employers for first 30-45 minutes for the interview, and after the employers will give them feedback on each question they asked. Some of the employers attending include Columbia distributing, staffing agencies and others who are experienced in recruiting students. 

“The employers will be here to offer tips to students not to hire,” said Lopez. 

“The mock interview workshop is one of many ways Career Services benefits Sonoma State students and recent alumni. This year, Career Services has added drop-in hours for resume and cover letter review to its plethora of services in continual effort to ensure the highest quality of support in career development for Sonoma State students and alumni,” said Valle-Riestra. 

Drop-in hours will be every Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Career Services hosts regular workshops, such as helping students master the professional networking platform LinkedIn .

“Other workshops this academic year are to be determined, but ones we like to have include Resumania, Professional Development Week, and panels of employers catered to majors. Our largest event of the year is the Career Fair, which will beMarch 1 and feature over 100 employers,” Valle-Riestra said. 

Students can get a hold of Career Services by emailing [email protected] or calling at (707) 664-2196.

Also, students can follow them on Facebook and LinkedIn at “SSU Career Services,” Twitter and Instagram @ssucareercenter.