To make sure she was on the right track, sophomore sociology major Laura Martinez decided to see an academic adviser at the career center every semester.

“We go over my schedule and how I’m doing in my classes,” Martinez said. “We also figure out which courses to take next semester.”

Academic counseling is one of the many services the Career Center, located in Lassen Hall, provided for free to all Sacramento State students.

“It’s the best hidden secret,” said Eva Gabbe, manager of recruitment programs at the Career Center. “We help students in every step of the way from resume writing to interviews to dinner etiquette.”

Along with drop-in counseling sessions on weekdays, the Career Center offers various workshops, career fairs, recruitment expos and resume makeovers for students and alumni.

The Career Center’s services are free for Sac State alumni for the first six months after graduation and $65 a year thereafter.

The mission of the Career Center is to help and guide students through the entire career development process, Gabbe said.

“What’s exciting about the process is that we serve everyone from freshmen to senior to alumni,” she said, adding that the counselors are there to guide students.

Ashley Gray, career counseling intern and graduate counselor education student, said she did not know about the services at the Career Center as an undergraduate student.

“I am amazed at the resources we have here,” Gray said. “We do anything from job search to resume critique, cover letters to trying to figure out majors.”

Some of the most popular events hosted by the Career Center are the Etiquette Dinner, the Government Agency Fair, Speed Interviews and Educator Recruitment Expo. Events like these help students to prepare for the working world.

The career resource library, which has more than 800 books and guides to major-related careers, and the computer lab are also available for students and alumni to use for resume writing and job searching during the service hours.

It is important to see a career counselor even if a student thinks he or she does not need any help finding a job, Gabbe said. These services include one-on-one career development and resume help.

In addition to deciding on the right major, she said that preparing an effective resume and good interview skills are crucial in landing a job.

“A poor resume isn’t going to get you an interview,” Gabbe said. “You don’t get seen at all if you are not prepared in how to get to the interview (stage).”

Gabbe and Gray said the career counselors focus on writing a professional and effective resume.

The Resume Makeover Workshop today in the University Union Ballroom is specifically for those who want feedback from employers.

During the Resume Makeover, industry experts critique participating students’ resumes and offer them tips on improving their resumes.

All workshops and fairs, such as the Career Fair on Sept. 30, are available to sign up on the Career Center website. The website is csus.edu/careercenter.

While employees from major companies and federal agencies such as Aerojet and FBI are present at career fairs, Gabbe said not enough students know about the Career Center to take advantage of the opportunities.

“When I meet people in classes in presentations, I will see out of 50 students, maybe 10 percent will raise their hand that they know about us,” she said. “I think we need more than that. We all need a good resume and good help.”

While she wishes to see more students come in, Gray said she is impressed with those who do use the services.

“A lot of them are coming in early, like a year or more before they graduate, to try to get networking and get their resumes done,” she said.

Ever since the country entered a recession, Gabbe said more students and alumni are turning to the Career Center for help.

“Oftentimes resumes come in and they need a new facelift,” she said. “Students don’t realize that the resume they created five years ago is not what’s acceptable today, especially in this competitive market.”

Once a student meets with a career counselor for a drop-in visit, he or she is eligible to make an appointment for an in-depth, one-hour scheduled appointment.

The Career Center website is a useful tool as more than just to search for jobs, Gray said.

“Employers specifically post job openings on our website, and you can also sign up for workshops and for campus recruitment,” she said. “A lot of different resources for students are there.”

The Career Center also gets students involved by having them participate in internship panels, where newly placed student interns talk to the attendees about tips and guidelines in getting the internship they desire.

It is never too early to look for a career or a job, Gray said.

Miyu Kataoka can be reached at [email protected].