Photo of Students participating in activities at the Career Center Open House.
Posted on by Bryce Alexis Simon

Fall 2024 Career Center Newsletter

Letter from the Director

Picture of career center director, Nyla Dalferes.
Nyla Jolly Dalferes
Career Center Director
Ed.D., NCC-Board Certified Counselor

Dear CSUN Community,

As we welcome everyone to spring 2025, we offer our thoughts for the comfort and well-being of those impacted by the devastating fires in Southern California. In this newsletter edition, you will find information on the diverse ways we supported career readiness and student success in fall 2024 and our plans for spring 2025.

In fall 2024, students were engaged with our services in diverse ways:

  • 1,079  students attended the  Fall  On-Campus Job  Fair.  The majority of attendees were from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences,  David Nazarian College of Business, and College of Engineering and Computer Science.
  • 1,451 students attended the Fall Career Fair and Graduate School Fair events to meet with 94 employers and 86 graduate schools.
  • 691 students received free workplace clothing from  Matty’s  Closet.
  • 34 on-campus student employees and 20  campus supervisors are enrolled in the competency-based 2024-2025 From Here To Career: Career Readiness program.

With our campus partners, we launched the Black House Career Peer Educator Program and the English Department’s Career Mentoring Program. Both allow us to integrate career readiness programming throughout campus. See page 6 for more information on the Black House Career Peer Program.

Our department-wide Program Review is progressing. By January 2025, we will be done with our Internal Review analysis and begin preparations for a spring visit to campus by the External Reviewers.

Meet our new team members! This fall, Esther Lanier joined the Career Center team as the Associate Director of Employer Relations. Esther oversees our Employer Relations team, employer partnerships, branding, and our new destination survey. Bryce Simon joined us in December, filling our Multimedia Content Developer position. Both roles are vital to our functions.

Coming soon…Get ready for the VMock AI resume review program and a LinkedIn Photo Booth! And…Starting in spring 2025, campus employers, faculty, and staff will be able to participate in the Career Champions Certificate Program.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward to readying students for their career success!  Warmly, Nyla Jolly Dalferes

Get Career Ready! Spring 2025 Career Events & Workshops

news.csun.edu/events-feed/career-center/

Job Fairs: Northridge Center USU

  • Tech Fest February 13
  • Spring Career Fair March 6
  • Recent Grad & Alumni Job Fair April 15

Work Where You Learn Series: 2 sessions

  • On-Campus Job Workshop Tuesday, January 27
  • On-Campus Job Fair Thursday, January 28

Launching Your Career Workshop Series: 10 sessions

  • Career Center Services Overview January 29
  • Storytelling Your Resume and AI February 5
  • Job Search Prep for International Students February 6
  • Preparing for Tech Fest and Spring Job Fair February 11
  • The Value of Securing An Internship February 19
  • Identifying Your Transferrable Skills February 25
  • Mastering the Art of the Interview March 11
  • Navigating Salary Negotiations with Confidence March 26
  • LinkedIn and Ask A Matador: Network Your Way to a Job April 17
  • Tapping Into the Hidden Job Market/AI and Your Job Search May 1

Internship Series: In honor of Black History Month

  • 3 Workshops February 3, 12 & 20  *  Speaker Panel February 25

Matador Insights Employer Career Panels: 3 Topics

  • Social Justice February 27 * Sports Industry March 27 * Sustainability April 22

On-Campus Student Employment Week: 3 sessions

  • Resume Workshop April 8
  • Resume Revamp April 9
  • FHTC Student Employee Alumni Panel April 10

A student’s perspective… What is the Career Center?

Photo of the career center welcome board greeting guests into the space.

The CSUN Career Center is a valuable space for students and alumni seeking professional and educational guidance. Providing a multitude of resources for job search preparation, workplace readiness and self-exploration, the Career Center maintains a goal of assisting students in discovering their values and career goals. These resources are substantial in their content and depth, aiming to be both accessible and effective for student development.

The Career Center Collaboratorium: BH413

     The Collaboratorium is an interactive space available to students and alumni. During operating hours, students are able to access the front desk to express any questions or concerns about Career Center resources. They may also look into our library, which contains a plethora of career-related materials. Some of these materials include industry sample resumes, comprehensive guides for specific job fields, and handbooks on job searching and networking techniques. 

Drop-In Career Advice: Virtual and In-Person

For students needing short-term guidance such as resume critiques or major-related concerns, the Career Center offers 10-15 minute drop-in sessions, available in both virtual and in-person formats. Drop-ins are hosted by our Peer Educators, which are student assistants who can relate to the experiences of many CSUN students. Drop-in schedule: https://www.csun.edu/career

Career Counseling:

Photo of Career Counselor, Daniel Levitch, looking at laptop in the center.
Photo: Career Counselor, Daniel Levitch, looking at laptop

A common concern among college students is the lack of clarity about one’s future. Students may struggle to discover their interests, worry about pursuing a financially lucrative career, or desire to change their major without the knowledge on how to do so. Career Counseling is meant to alleviate these concerns, providing in-depth 1-on-1 counseling to help students pave their own path to success.

From Here to Career:

Student employment provides students the opportunity to gain work skills on campus that prepare them for future professional endeavors. To help student employees prepare for their career journey, the Career Center encourages on-campus supervisors and student assistants to participate in the From Here to Career program. Through meetups with alumni in the workforce, comprehensive coursework on workplace readiness, and individual mentorship with student assistants, From Here to Career ensures that student employees are set on a path to career success.

Matty’s Closet:

Matty’s Closet is a donation-based program that provides students with free workplace-appropriate attire for interviews, conferences, jobs, and more. With a mission to strengthen the confidence and workplace readiness of CSUN students, Matty’s Closet has proven to be an invaluable resource for those who take advantage of it. Students can attend drop-in sessions or make appointments with Matty’s Closet stylists, who are trained to help students discover and embrace their personal style while maintaining a proper work-ready appearance.

Job and Internship Resources

CareerLink:

CareerLink is an online database connecting students to an abundance of professional and educational resources and information. Some of these resources include the Academic Programs page, which supplies information of CSUN majors and the careers they offer, and the O*Net Interest Profiler, a self-exploration quiz to help students navigate which careers best suit their interests.

Handshake:

Handshake is an online career management platform used to connect students and alumni with employers. Containing thousands of job listings, research opportunities, and internship postings, Handshake is an essential resource for students seeking on- and off-campus employment. Users can also utilize Handshake to register for career fairs and career development events, which are great opportunities to learn practical skills and grow professional networks.

These brief descriptions only touch the surface of what each of our services can offer. The Career Center encourages all students and alumni to take full advantage of these resources to receive the best assistance possible along their professional and educational journey. Feel free to visit the Career Center to learn more about these resources or visit the Career Center website.

A photo collage of different logos including the CareerLink program, CSUN Career Center, Matty's Closet, From Here to Career, and Handshake.

Student Voices

What do students think about our services?

While we can go on and on about the benefits of the Career Center’s resources, we wanted to give students the chance to share their personal experiences using our services. Feedback informs us on what students need and allows us to improve upon our services every semester.

“I was undeclared when entering my first year at CSUN and I made a future goal in discovering my major in 2024. On a life-changing decision, I decided to go to the college job fair in the Spring and met Veronica Torres, who helped me schedule an appointment in pursuit for my major.
The overall journey within the Career Center has allowed me to not only expand my perspective on college as a whole, but also discover my own traits that are beneficial to finding not only my major, but also a career. This experience was a huge blessing to go through as I believed I had discovered something much bigger within myself alongside my major during my time with Veronica.

If you decide to take career counseling, my tip is that you should be honest with your counselor about how you feel about your situation with finding majors as it will build a bond between you and your counselor and give more effective results. It’s okay to express your emotions whenever you are feeling down, stressed, and etc.”

-Anonymous Sophomore

“The Career Center’s services were extremely helpful when I came in to get resume guidance. Broke everything section by section and advised me with what I should change. Overall amazing experience.”

-Anonymous Senior

“The Career Center helped me in improving my resume. I got to see what I can do better on and what I should add. The people that helped me were great and so nice.“

-Anonymous Junior

“The reason behind my visit was help with looking for internships, jobs, interview prep, ways that I can pitch myself during an interview, spotting fake job posts, resume & cover letter critique, mock interview, etc.

Veronica Torres from the Career Center has positively impacted my educational and professional journey. She has impacted my journey positively by being that person to help push me to keep going even though I was getting tired of seeing all the no’s when I would apply to internships. She has prepared me in many ways, like teaching me how I can spot fake job posts on my own or the different ways that I can help myself stand out more. She has given me different tips and advice on the different ways that I can make something (resumes & cover letters) better. I feel that with Veronica in my corner, I l earned how to pitch myself and I was able to meet with different companies I didn’t think I would be able to get connected with. She’s that person in my corner that I can count on, and without her I feel that I wouldn’t have gotten this far on this journey that I’m on. She’s one of the best out there!

I would recommend that students go to the Career Center, it would help you out more than you know. I’d advise students to start going early and not later.”

-Anonymous Senior

“The Career Center has helped me by explaining more of the career I want to understand. The people there are very helpful for trying to find out your major.”

-Anonymous Freshman

The Black House Career Peer Program

Photo of black house career peer smiling in graduation gown holding his grad cap.
Jordan A. Lane
General Career Peer Educator
Secondary Black House Liaison

Meet your Black House Career Peer Educators!

Through this identity-based partnered program, students can access career drop-ins, workshops, discussions about workplace identity, and role models in a safe and inspiring environment. In the spring 2025 Semester, Talia and Jordan will take part in coordinating Empowerment through Experience: Internships and Beyond, an event series to assist students with professional development. This will include workshops on resume writing, networking strategies, and interview preparation, along with an internship panel to connect students with internship recruiters. This series will be a collaboration between CSUN’s Career Center and Black House, aiming to ensure that our Black student population is set up for success. Check the Career Center and Black House calendars for weekly career drop-in times and events.

Photo of black house career peer smiling.
Talia L. Hunter
General Career Peer Educator
Primary Black House Liaison

Fall Semester In Review

Photo of Students networking at the On-Campus Job Fair
Photo: Students networking at the On-Campus Job Fair

On-Campus Job Fair

September 4, 2024

One of the most beneficial opportunities for professional development on-campus is student employment. Being a student employee not only looks great on your resume, but allows you to make valuable connections, form community on campus, and develop practical skills for the workplace. To connect students with on-campus job opportunities, the Career Center hosted the On-Campus Job Fair. Held on September 4th, students were given the chance to network with on campus employers, learn about Career Center resources, and mingle with peers.

S.T.E.A.M. Career Day

September 24, 2024

Along with our general career fairs, the Career Center hosts fairs catered toward specific job fields and majors. On September 24th, we hosted the S.T.E.A.M. Career Day, aimed at students pursuing jobs in Computer Science, Engineering, the Applied Arts, and more. Some of the visiting employers included Electronic Arts, Crane Aerospace & Electronics, and Medtronic. An astounding 611 students attended the fair, taking the opportunity to network, socialize, and see what the job market has to offer.

Photo of A long line of students waiting to enter the STEAM Career Fair
Photo: A long line of students waiting to enter the STEAM Career Fair

Graduate School Fair

October 10th, 2024

Photo of Students interacting with a graduate school representative at the Graduate School Fair.
Photo: Students interacting with a graduate school representative at the Graduate School Fair.

Aside from midterms and holiday breaks, the fall semester additionally brings forth the season of graduate school applications. With deadlines drawing nearer, the Career Center assisted students in their school search by hosting the Graduate School Fair. Held on October 10th, the Career Center partnered with a multitude of universities and programs to show students what graduate school has to offer. Some of the visiting programs included Arizona State University, Pepperdine University, and University of California, Berkeley.

Photo of Students interacting with a CSUN graduate school representative at the Graduate School Fair.
Photo: Students interacting with a CSUN graduate school representative at the Graduate School Fair.

Students dressed in professional attire attending the Fall Career Fair
Photo: Students dressed in professional attire attending the Fall Career Fair

Fall Career Fair

October 24th, 2024

The Career Center continued its run of events with the Fall Career Fair, held on October 24th. The Fall Career fair welcomed employers from over 30 different career industries, including Electronic & Computer Hardware, Legal & Law Enforcement, and Sales & Marketing. Some of the visiting employers included D. Law, The Sherwin-Williams Company and Premier America Credit Union. A breathtaking total of 908 students visited the fair, getting the chance to make real-world connections and practice their networking skills.

Career Center Open House

October 30th, 2024

Students participating in activities at the Career Center Open House.
Photo: Students participating in activities at the Career Center Open House.

An integral part of the college experience is taking advantage of the opportunities available to you. Many college students go through their entire undergraduate experience without using campus resources, often uninformed about what these resources can provide. The Career Center aimed to combat this by hosting an Open House event for all students and faculty. We offer numerous resources to help students succeed during their time at CSUN, and the Open House put all of these resources on display. As an added bonus, students got to see the Career Center staff and student assistants in fun Halloween costumes!

We would like to extend our gratitude to all of the students and alumni for attending our events throughout the semester. With your feedback, we are able to make every event better than the last. Additionally, we would like to thank every employer and representative for sharing information and connecting with our students. Your participation is crucial in the execution of our events, and we cannot thank you enough. Last but certainly not least, we would like to thank Sarah Le Long, Genesis Lozano, and the rest of the Career Center staff and student assistants for organizing and carrying out these events. These events have helped thousands of students learn, grow, and thrive, and we cannot wait to see what the Career Center has to offer in the spring!

Career Counselor Tips

Career Counselors are amazing resources of information relating to professional development. To provide students with a glimpse of what they have to offer, our Career Counselors have shared tips to build your network, gain job experience, and discover your interests.

How can students build experience in their career field?

Career center counselor, Daniel Levitch, smiling on CSUN campus.
Daniel Levitch
Career Counselor, Engagement Coordinator

Students can build experience in their field in a variety of ways, including:

  • Volunteerism: Many non-profit organizations have volunteer opportunities.
  • Internships: Check Handshake for internship postings related to your field.
  • On-Campus Jobs. Look out for our bi-annual On-Campus Job Fair.
  • DIY. Develop your online presence by discussing your field on YouTube.
  • Present at Conferences. Look into Professional Associations in your field.
  • Get Published. Submit articles to industry-specific journals and magazines.

What can students do if they are unsure about which major to choose?

Career center counselor, Genesis Lozano, smiling on CSUN campus.
Genesis Lozano
Career Counselor, Student Employment Coordinator

“If you are unsure about which major to choose, I would start by exploring your interests and hobbies. Reflect on your hobbies, extracurricular activities, and subjects that pique your interest. Consider questions like: What  activities make you lose track of time? What topics do you find yourself  learning  more about outside of class? Are there skills that you have wanted to develop? Once you understand your  interests,  use  CareerLink  to  research  how  they  align with potential majors…”

How can students find internships?

Career center counselor, Veronica Torres, smiling on CSUN Campus.
Veronica Torres
Career Counselor,
Peer Educator Coordinator

The most underutilized resource on campus are your professors and classmates! The more you involve yourself on campus, the more you will learn about available internship opportunities that may not be as broadly advertised. Build good relationships with folks on campus and you’ll be surprised at how many doors open for you!

What are some ways to make connections with employers?

Career center EOP counselor, Hector Carrillo, smiling on CSUN campus.
Hector Carrillo Jr.
Career Counselor (EOP)

You need to get outside your comfort zone. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Start to build your network early through faculty, staff, and even family/friends. Practice your one-minute commercial. Attend our Career Center events like the Career Fairs and Information Sessions. Informational interviews and job shadowing is another great way to start to make connections as well!

‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’

– Wayne Gretzky”

How can students with little to no job experience market themselves?

Career center counselor, Bran Finck, smiling on CSUN campus.
Brian Finck
Senior Career Counselor, Presentation Coordinator

Network, network, network. The more  people  who  know  about  you—your  interests,  your  passions,  etc.—the  better.And  the  more  you  know  about  other  people,  the  stronger  and more meaningful those  relationships  become.  Remember:most  opportunities appear through  networking,  not  job  listings—somebody  knew  about  an  opportunity and passed that information along…”

Important Links & Info

Career Center Location & Hours of Operation

Phone Number: (818) 677-2878

Address: Bayramian Hall 413, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA, 91330-8241

Hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Career Center Website: csun.edu/career

Follow Us On…

LinkedIn

Instagram

Youtube

Additional Links

Handshake

CareerLink

From Here to Career

Matty’s Closet

Career Peers Instagram

Matty’s Closet Instagram

A group of career center staff smiling in a class room after winter games.

Lead Writer & Editor

Jordan Lane

General Career Peer Educator

B.A. in Psychology, May 2025

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