For the students rapidly approaching their graduation date, entering the professional realm may seem daunting. However, the Career & Professional Development Center, in collaboration with the Alumni Association, has recently held an event to help students better cope with this shift by providing current students a space to network themselves with local professionals.

Evelyn Ramos, Director of the Career and Development Center, stated that her goal in planning and hosting this event was to provide a space for professional networking and connecting with current CSU Stanislaus students to campus alumni and professionals in coming from a variety of fields.

“Everybody here, if you’re not an alum already, you will be, right? So really consider that your CSU is not just Stanislaus,” she says, “Yes, we are here and we want to be your core. But you have access to all alumni. If you don’t know how career services can help you, our council members can help you…I might be able to give you a reference to a position that’s really directed to your skills, your experience, your background, your interests, which is different than applying to 500 jobs.”

While supporting the flow of the event, Ramos shared how excited she was about the turnout.

“I like it – we’re really happy…that’s most of the battle is just showing up. So we’re really happy with folks and I like that we got a mix of some majors,” she says.

Along with networking with Stan State alumni, Ramos strongly encourages students to connect with faculty here on campus via the Faculty Mentor Program to broaden their opportunities.

“It’s a large campus… you’re going to be paired with the faculty member who wants to provide that mentorship – and it can be a faculty member in your major, it could be a faculty member not in your major. But again, the goal is to help students connect to the campus. Really look at what can they get out of their time here,” she says.

Cecilia Ramirez (Accounting, senior) stated that she signed up for the event, not only to network with professionals, but to be more active on campus, as well as a means to observe what other students in her major may be doing after they graduate.

“I’m not alone, in a way,” says Ramirez “I tend to try to just do my classes and that’s it. I’m trying to network a little bit more, just so I get to know more professionals and it feels kind of nice to hear different stories and people who have not similar but kind of similar past to what I have.”

Catherine Rambonngga (Master in Business Administration, first year) shared how excited she was being able to network with others as well as meeting new people.

“I like the networking – I met a lot of people!” says Rambonngga. “It’s good and I learned…I just want to have interaction, like fellowship or a networking type.”

Steve Caballero, Senior Graphic Designer for Stan State’s Strategic Communications & Marketing Department, who attended the event as a mentor, recommends that graduates should be diligent about employment as soon as they make connections prior to their graduation.

“They’re going to have to get out there and make connections and apply,” Caballero says, “Sometimes you’re not always going to get your dream job right out of college, but you just gotta get your foot in the door.”