What is the mission of CECE?
The mission of the Center for Career Education and Community Engagement (CECE) is to prepare students for lifelong learning and development through community engagement and career education by forming strong partnerships with community organizations, employers and CSUB students, faculty and staff.
What are the resources available to students and the campus community? How can students get more information/sign up for opportunities offered?
CECE offers comprehensive career counseling services to students and alumni. We assist with exploring major options, discussing career options and job-search strategies, resume development and review, interview practice, help on the graduate school application process and on-campus, part-time, volunteer and internship searches.
Handshake, our web-based career management system, is where students can search for job/internship/volunteer opportunities, schedule appointments to meet with career counselors, submit their resume to be reviewed, view and register for all career events and connect with other students and employers.
Workshops are available throughout the semester for students’ career development (“Interview with Confidence”, “Choose A Major”, and more) and CECE also hosts several fairs throughout the academic year (Volunteer Fair, Career Expo, and Graduate School Fair).
Students are also welcome to stop by the office during our walk-in hours for a brief 20-minute counseling session: Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Wednesdays 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and Thursdays 2– 4 p.m.
How does CECE partner with businesses or individuals to provide campus, and students specifically, with the best information and resources possible?
CECE collaborates with other CSUB departments and employers in the community to increase awareness of volunteer, internships, academic programs and job opportunities.
For example, we recently collaborated with the Graduate Student Center (GSC) for the Graduate & Professional School Fair and GSC’s Third Annual Graduate Studies Summit. Students learned — from both departments — about graduate school programs, the application process and funding opportunities.
We partnered with the Office of Student Involvement for the Get Involved! Day, which consisted of the Volunteer, Club and On-Campus Job Fair. Students learned about clubs and on-campus opportunities while connecting with nonprofit organizations and learning about volunteer opportunities in the community. Students can gain valuable skills and experiences while building a strong resume through participation in campus and community engagement.
CSUB professors and clubs request CECE presentations and we present on different professional and career development topics.
Joshua St. John, the CECE employer engagement coordinator, works closely with employers to bring them to campus through information sessions, job fairs and tabling. Employers connect with students and share their job opportunities. Chevron, Cintas, the City of Bakersfield and the California State Water Resources Control Board have been recent campus visitors.
Collaborating with JCPenney for the Suit-Up Event helped students, faculty, staff, alumni and their families receive discounts on career wear and accessories. Everyone needs at least one professional outfit, and the Suit Up event made it more affordable to create that polished appearance!
How do you feel your department prepares and equips students during their time at CSUB, as well as after they’ve graduated?
We believe preparing students and providing them with the necessary tools to be career ready begins their freshman year and continues throughout their years here at CSUB. CECE is given the opportunity to present in classrooms, from the CSUB 1029 classes to senior seminars, as well as meet with students individually, where we provide the necessary tools to help them wherever they are in their career journey. If students aren’t sure what they want to major in or pursue for a career, we can help them with that exploration process.
Once they have identified a career goal, we can assist them with developing a plan of action to succeed. It’s crucial that students take what they are learning in their academic program and apply that knowledge, whether it’s through an internship, volunteer experience or part-time job. It’s also important to begin the networking process early, long before they are looking for a job. We can help guide them with those activities, as well as help them prepare their resume, job search and interview skills to be successful in obtaining employment in their chosen field.
After students graduate, we continue to help alumni by offering career counselor appointments to discuss their career options, assisting with their job search or answering graduate school questions. Alumni continue to have access to Handshake, workshops and career fairs.
What events are coming up that students and others in the community should put on their calendar, for jobs, internships or volunteer opportunities?
In the spring, we have two career fairs scheduled. On Feb. 1, 2024, our volunteer fair will take place. Local non-profit agencies will be on hand to discuss opportunities for students to get involved with their organizations for the benefit of our community members.
The Spring Career Expo, typically our largest CECE fair, is scheduled for March 7, 2024. This is an amazing event for students and alumni to connect with recruiters in person and learn about the multitude of job and internship opportunities available to them.
What are some of the other workshops or trainings that take place throughout the academic year? How do they prepare students for a job in ways that they might not necessarily experience directly in the classroom?
We have over 20 career-related events throughout the academic year which help students with their career development. While students are learning in their classrooms, they also have to grow professionally and gain experience within their field. By attending workshops, students learn how to network with employers, how to build their brand, how to prepare for interviews, how to conduct a job search, how to use LinkedIn and more. The workshops help students from resume-building to how to interact with employers during career expos. Networking with employers will help students learn about internships and new job opportunities.
We also do mock interviews with students to help them practice and build confidence in themselves to do well during their interviews.
How can CSUB alumni take advantage of some of the opportunities available to them? How long are they able to utilize those resources?
Alumni can attend our workshops and career fairs for free. Alumni receive two free career counseling appointments, and they have unlimited access to Handshake to search for career opportunities.
Is there anything else you’d like to add that might not be included?
Reach out to us for any of your career-related questions. We are happy to help! It’s never too early to begin preparing for your professional career after college and it’s never too late to reach out for help. Follow us on our social media channels and LinkedIn to be updated on all CECE events: @csubcece.
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