In the real world, the services that the Career Center at Sacramento State offers would run a client upwards of $95 to $125 an hour, said Eva Gabbe, an employer relations manager. But here at Sac State, such services are free, usually offered on a walk-in basis and are available on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And the buck doesn’t stop there.

Sac State Alumni can receive Career Center services for a discounted $45 to $75 per year, depending on the package they choose. “Even after you leave, we’re here to help again,” said Shari Gonzales, career events specialist.

It sounds too good to be true ?” but it isn’t. All the perks and services of the Career Center are offered to any Sac State student interested utilizing them.

Experiential education, career planning, career counseling, job fairs, on-campus recruitment, internship and cooperative education opportunities, and an extensive informational library are just a taste of what the Career Center at Lassen Hall, Room 2000, has to offer.

However, the Career Center may not be used enough by students, especially freshmen. A career counselor at the center, Martha Schuster stressed the fact that students don’t come in soon enough to use the services and are often left one step behind those that do.

“It’s advantageous to get in here; the sooner the better,” Schuster said.

The reason for the push to get Sac State students involved and working proactively toward career goals is that “they’re not just looking for degrees anymore,” said Internship Coordinator Candace McGee.

Gabbe said that employers are looking for initiative in prospective employees and things like internships, traveling abroad, working part-time jobs, volunteering and taking leadership roles in clubs and organizations can give a student that extra edge.

One good thing for soon-to-be Sac State graduates is that the market is looking up.

“The future is looking really good because the job market has strengthened again,” Schuster said.

McGee said that the hottest field right now is accounting, and that the “state is hiring in droves.” Other hot areas of the job market include municipal services, environmental management, engineering, public service and health care.

Graduating senior and Criminal Justice major Shaun Hughes sees the overall market as stable.

“While there are many opportunities in my field of study, the economy might not be able to support new growth,” Hughes said. Hughes has not yet visited the Career Center, but hopes to use their job services to help him get started on his career.

Those visiting the Career Center for the first time might want to sign up for a tour to get better acquainted with the services offered. The interactive tour is a “hands on experiential tour of library resources, careers, software and J.O.B. Board databases,” Schuster said.

Next, students can take advantage of career planning and make an appointment with a career counselor to explore different majors and career choices.

Career Center events are another way that students can get involved. The Career Fair on Oct. 5 in the University Union Ballroom is open to anyone interested.

“If you are looking to do occupational research, the Career Fair is for that,” McGee said.

Gonzales encourages freshmen to go the Career Fair and “get comfortable enough to get up there and shake a hand and make a contact.”

The Major Fair on Nov. 9 is aimed at students who want to explore the different majors and minors offered at Sacramento State. The Major Fair is held in cooperation with the Academic Advising Center and puts all majors into one room to discuss possibilities, Gonzales said.

The Career Center also offers Mock interviews on Sept. 28 and 29 as well as an Etiquette Dinner on Nov. 9 to help students hone skills for the job hunting process. Gabbe said that both events are hugely successful and fairly unique because they are usually seen on campuses with MBA programs.

Students interested in experiential learning may want to look into the 2005 Cooperative Education program, which is similar to an internship, but much more structured, McGee said. The Co-Op program is paid, full-time, and includes college units. The opportunity has a GPA requirement and challenges the student to excel at his or her tasks.

Mari Edwards, a freshman and History major at Sac State, explored internships through a program at her high school and said the experience helped her find a career that she was excited about pursuing in college. She plans on utilizing such services as the Mock Interviews at the Career Center to help her achieve her goals. “You have to do something that will set yourself apart from other applicants,” Edwards said.

If students come in early to the Career Center, they will be “so polished by the time they are seniors, everyone will want them,” McGee said.

The Career Center isn’t just about focusing on one career, but more of a job exploration center, Gonzales said.

It also isn’t just about one particular major. “Don’t just ask yourself, what is my major, but what skill sets do I have,” Gabbe said. Whether a student has fiscal, time management, leadership, or organizational skills, these skill sets can be sharpened and marketed to any employer.

“Come utilize the center,” Gonzales urges students. “It’s about turning life experience into skills.”