Internships are not just part-time jobs, but learning opportunities that can help students at CSU Stanislaus prepare for their future careers. The Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC) at Stan State offers a range of services and resources to assist students in finding and applying for internships that match their interests and goals.

One of the staff members at the CPDC is Jaskaran Dhesi, a Career Counselor who has been working with students for over six years. Dhesi shared some of his advice and insights on how students can benefit from the CPDC’s services.

“One of the most important steps is to access our services. Our services are open to alumni, so they’re not limited to when you graduate,” Dhesi said. “It’s also important to understand the industry that you’re interested in and what jobs are related to your major.”

Dhesi also made special mention of Handshake, an online platform that connects students with employers and job opportunities. He said that Handshake allows students to post their resume, look at jobs, and get information about different events and workshops hosted by the CPDC or its employer partners.

“Handshake is used by 18 CSUs and many employers who are looking for Stan State students,” Dhesi said. “You can also take a look at our Career Center and you’re connected to our Career Center about different workshops coming up, different job and internship opportunities.”

A list of employer partners can be found here: https://www.csustan.edu/career/careerreadyu
He said that he helps students with the application process for internships and jobs, such as developing their resume and preparing for interviews. He said that he tries to match students with the available positions in the community based on their interests and needs.

“We try not to make it cookie cutter, right? So it’s important to develop a relationship with the student as far as knowing what they’re interested in, what restrictions they may have in their job search,” Dhesi said.

One student who looked into career opportunities through CSU Stanislaus  is Charlie Jueco (Senior, Computer Science) who is currently doing her second internship in robotics with Dr. Liang, a Computer Science professor and her mentor.

Jueco said she found out about her internships through LSAMP, the Alliance for Minority Participation, a program that aims to increase the number of underrepresented students who pursue degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Jueco explained that her internship experience has helped her learn how to do scientific studies on her own, come to her own conclusions, and write her own data. She said she wants to get her PhD and become a scientist after she graduates.

“I plan on doing research professionally. So doing research here at school with my robots, it really helped me learn how to do like scientific studies on my own and coming to my own conclusions and writing my own data,” Jueco said.

Jueco is not only doing research at CSU Stanislaus, but she is also preparing to go abroad for another internship this summer. She said she will be going to Uzbekistan, a country in Central Asia, where she will work with PhD students on a project related to artificial intelligence.

Jueco said she is excited about this opportunity because it will give her a preview of what she will do once she is in grad school. She said she applied for this internship through LSAMP as well, and she was surprised when she got accepted.

“I was actually really shocked when I got into this internship because, at first, they stated that out of all the students they ranked, I was seventh out of six students. But I don’t know, I just took my shot. I seized the opportunity and asked them, ‘Well, what’s the status of my application?’ After that, the professor emailed me and said, ‘You know, we might have additional funding. Talk to me.’ And now I’m here,” Jueco said.

According to the CSU Stanislaus website, academic internships are professional learning opportunities for students realized through directed observation and work activities. Each internship available at major departments is jointly supervised by a department coordinator and representatives of the cooperating organization, and eligible for course credit.

The website also states that internships afford students opportunities to apply what they have learned in the classroom, make important networking and reference contacts, affirm (or refute) career plans, and enhance resumes and portfolios, all essential for future success.

Students who are interested in finding internships without course credit can visit the HireStanState section of the CPDC website or contact their department coordinators for more information.

The CPDC can be reached at [email protected] or (209) 667-3661. They are located at University Student Center 205. They can also be followed on Instagram @stanstatecareer.