The Expanding Influence of the Office of Pre-College Programs Career Day on Student and Paraprofessional Career Awareness and Engagement

The Office of Pre-College Programs (OPP) recently celebrated its most successful Career Day yet, hosting over 100 participants—its largest turnout to date. This milestone underscores the event's growing role in fostering professional development for students and paraprofessional staff.

Since its inception four years ago, Career Day has aimed to help participants translate their on-the-job experiences into valuable career skills. Many student staff and paraprofessionals gain hands-on experience through their roles but often struggle to effectively present these skills in resumes or interviews. Career Day addresses this gap by providing tools and resources to help participants confidently showcase their expertise and prepare for future opportunities.

The event has grown significantly over the years, incorporating additional programs like College Corps and CAMP Scholars, which work closely with K–12 schools and districts. The core mission remains unchanged: ensuring that every participant can highlight their skills and present themselves as strong candidates in any professional environment.

Despite initial concerns about maintaining engagement among returning participants, Career Day has seen overwhelmingly positive feedback. Attendees not only look forward to the event each year but also encourage others to join. For some, it’s a networking opportunity—like College Corps fellows who connected with external partners for summer jobs. Others return with specific goals, such as refining resumes or exploring graduate school options.

This year introduced new workshop rotations, allowing attendees to customize their experience. Workshop topics ranged from workforce readiness and financial literacy to graduate school preparation. Highlights included:

Graduate School Preparation by April Lane (CSUSB Graduate Studies)
Financial Literacy by Bobbi Albano, Lacey Kendall, and Chastdei Kotsei (Building Wealth Initiative)
Life After College Strategies by Frances Tapper (Growing Inland Achievement)
Job Market Trends by Oscar Fonseca (CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Career Center)
Resume Building by Melissa Bakeman (CSUSB JHBC Professional Writing Center)

These workshops equipped participants with practical tools and insights to navigate their career paths effectively.

Mock interviews remained a cornerstone of the event, enhanced by the involvement of community volunteers. These long-standing partners brought valuable perspectives, helping participants gain real-world insights beyond the academic setting.

Veronica Guzman, one of the event organizers, shared her thoughts on Career Day’s growing impact:
"Every year, we wonder if returning participants will continue to find value in Career Day, and the answer is always yes. Seeing students and staff promote the event, share their success stories, and eagerly return is truly rewarding."

Looking ahead, Career Day’s organizers plan to introduce more workshops, increase volunteer involvement, and possibly add a resource fair to connect attendees with career tools and opportunities.

OPP Career Day has proven to be more than just an event—it’s a catalyst for student success, empowering attendees to confidently navigate their next steps in life and career.

For more information on the Office of Pre-College Programs (OPP) visit: https://www.csusb.edu/student-affairs/student-success-educational-equity/pre-college-programs