Career Success Profiles
Success Profile: Kari Hoffman
Name: Kari Hoffman
Job Title: Marketing Associate
Organization: Optronics, Inc.
Graduation Year: 2011
Degree: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies, Emphasis in Public Relations
How did you utilize the services offered by Career Development Services?
I used Career Development Services to help me with life after graduation. I needed help finding a real career, not another ‘high school’ job. Many people are so excited to graduate and receive that diploma, and so was I, but that also meant it was time to face reality and become an adult; a scary thought. I had no idea where to go or begin, so I contacted Career Development Services (CDS) at CSU Channel Islands and scheduled an appointment for help and let me tell you, I am SO glad that I did! I received numerous sources of help from the entire CDS staff.
How did Career Development Services assist you in your career preparation?
I was able to utilize Career Development Services after graduation by setting an appointment with Amanda Carpenter and bringing in my resume. From there, Mrs. Carpenter completely rearranged my resume with me and really listened to me as I explained what I wanted to highlight in my resume and what fields I was interested in going into. She was great at offering suggestions, prepping me for interviews, teaching me about networking and other career skills.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to current CI students regarding Career Development Services?
Not all students know how to present themselves or even how to look for work. I feel that every student should make their way to the Career Development Center and I really wish I did while I was a student. If I were to have visited sooner I would have already known everything it takes to get that dream job before I graduated, rather than months after. Being that it generally takes six months to find a career, I could have spent those six months preparing while I was a student so that the minute I graduated, I would have had the job already. Now that I have landed a GREAT job, I have to say that the most important step is to stay positive and go see Mrs. Carpenter!
Success Profile: Janna Van Tamelen
Name: Janna Van Tamelen
Job Title: Print Department Intern
Organization: KSR Talent
Graduation Year: 2012
Degree: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications, Emphasis in Healthcare
How did you utilize the services offered by Career Development Services?
I utilized Career Development Services to help further my knowledge and expectations for a professional interview. After attending the workshop on resume writing and interviewing techniques, I signed up for a mock interview to test myself and my interviewing skills.
How did Career Development Services assist you in your career preparation?
Career Development Services was extremely helpful and prepared me for these real life situations that I can use for the rest of my life. I felt anxious but confident when going into the mock interview and I ended up doing very well. Coincidentally, I had a real interview for my internship right after the mock interview. I got the job and I have been interning there ever since!
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to current CI students regarding Career Development Services?
I would very much recommend Career Development Services to any and all students. I thought I knew everything there was about resumes and interviewing techniques and what to do and what not to do, but I still learned a great amount of new information which helped me get my new job and will help me get future jobs.
Success Profile: Ryan LeClercq
Name: Ryan LeClercqJob Title: Community Service Officer
Organization: CSU Channel Islands, Police and Parking Services
Graduation Year: 2013
Degree: Bachelor of Science Degree in Business
How did you utilize the services offered by Career Development Services?
Career Development Services helped me prepare a polished, professional resume. They also helped me prepare for the interview that eventually landed me my current job.
How did Career Development Services assist you in your career preparation?
Using Career Development Services helped me to realize what information is relevant to the job that I was applying for. There was information about myself that I didn't realize would help me on the job, but they explained how it was relevant to what I wanted to do. Posting that information on my resume helped me obtain the job I was applying for.
Based on your experience, what advice would you give to current CI students regarding Career Development Services?
I would recommend that every student go to the Career Development Center. Whether or not the student is currently looking for a job, the Career Development Services staff can help students prepare for the future! Many careers take a lot of planning, and Career Development Services is there to help with career planning. They are there to help students take steps that will make them better candidates for the positions they are looking for. Whether it is building a resume, preparing for an interview, or assistance with finding a job opening, the Career Development Center is a great place to find the information that will help students become better candidates for employers.