The Career Center has gone high-tech with its new program, Career Connection, by allowing students and employers alike to post, view and respond to job openings, internships and resumes online.

The website ?” www.csus.edu/careercenter ?” promises students the ability to research positions both major and non-major based. Another benefit is that students can communicate via e-mail with employers and career counselors.

It also allows employers the chance to review applicant’s resumes, giving both parties more time to schedule interviews and offer feedback and advice for future employment opportunities.

Before the program was set up, the Career Center would help students by posting each job separately on a designated major page.

It had become extremely clear over the past few years that there was a general need for a better way to list and respond to job opportunities for students, said Sarah Hemenway, a student employment assistant with the Career Center.

Career Center employees and students say the structure of the new program is a huge improvement.

It’s the most high-tech program we have to link students to employers through one free and easy step, said Anna Domek, career counselor and cooperative education coordinator.

To sign up for the program online, students are required to go through registration with the website.

Students are required to use his or her valid Saclink account and password to register.

To register, students have to answer five basic questions that cover everything from student names and phone numbers to alternate e-mail addresses and job preferences.

Sac State alumni can also use the program.

Career Connection was originally proposed in late 2004, but was not officially accepted until June after the National Association for Colleges and Employers formally endorsed the program in May.

While the passing of the program seemed like a no-brainer when based solely on the benefits and ease at which it can be operated, Hemenway said it was the cost of running it that left some a little hesitant.

After a small period of discussion, it was decided that the Career Center would pay all set-up and maintenance fees, making the program free for both students and employers.

Employers like Chevron use the free program to recruit students who are well trained and skilled for their companies.

Chevron Information Technology Recruiter Suzanne Diers said Chevron is looking for students with outstanding communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills to join the company’s Information Technology function.

In October we will hold interviews at the Sacramento State Career Center on campus, and we’ll use Career Connection as part of that process, Diers said.

The Career Center’s next goal is letting students know about it.

The website, which officially opened to students on July 3, has registered over 800 employers with over 600 job and internship positions available, according to Domek.

Freshman Devon Love said the new program seems like a great idea.

It allows students the opportunity to not only apply for more than one job or position at a time, but also to find the job that works best for them, Love said.

The fact that employers sign up knowing that only college students with pre-determined class schedules are going to apply makes the process a lot less stressful, Love said.

Ashley Evans can be reached at [email protected]