With Fresno State‘s 103rd Commencement set for May 16-17, seniors are gearing up for life after college with workshops next week designed to prepare them for the competitive job market.

The first of several workshops this semester by Career Services on resume writing and financial planning will be held March 3 and 5.

The university’s main Commencement ceremony for the class of 2014 will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17 at the Save Mart Center following various department- and college-specific convocations and recognition events beginning Friday, May 16.

It will be the first Fresno State University Commencement Ceremony for new university President Dr. Joseph I. Castro, who will preside over the ceremony and the inaugural class of Nursing doctoral degrees will also be awarded.

Commencement is under new leadership this year with Melissa Ginotti, director of Student Involvement, following the December retirement of longtime coordinator Gary Nelson.

And an upgraded Commencement website is being developed to provide a one-stop resource for all information, news, updates, video and photo coverage:   www.fresnostate.edu/commencement.

Tickets are not required for the main ceremony on Saturday. The Commencement schedule posted on the website indicates which events require tickets.

Nearly 5,000 Fresno State students complete their higher education requirements each year and approximately 1,200 participate in Saturday morning’s University Commencement Ceremony each spring. Thousands participate in the many additional recognition events over the two days celebrating graduates of colleges, schools, programs and various cultural identities.

Graduate candidates will get their first shot at purchasing Commencement regalia and other accessories or gifts at “Grad Fest” from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 on the Kennel Bookstore patio.

Presented by the Fresno State Alumni Association, the event provides students an opportunity to purchase the keepsake “Grad Box” in preparation for the graduation events.

With an increasingly competitive job market, Fresno State Career Services is providing several free workshops this year to help students with their job quests:

  • The “Resume Writing Workshop” from 5-6 p.m. Monday, March 3, and the “Interview Techniques Workshop” from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, will be in the University Student Union, Room 309, and is open to all students. Workshops are also set for March 20 and April 30. See full schedule.
  • The “Life after College Mini-Conference” from 1-4 p.m. March 25-26 in the University Business Center will consist of hour-long sessions by professionals discussing financial planning, real estate, benefits and compensation and other important topics for new grads. No registration is required.
  • The Green Careers Workshop from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 22 in USU 309 will explore the different options in green careers and how students can apply their background to a green job. 
  • Networking Week April 2-4 will include workshops each day such as “LinkedIn:  Tapping into Your NETwork,” “Networking Mixer’ and “Build Your Network through Informational Interviewing.”

Also, students can learn how to impress a potential employer during a meal or special event at the “Dining Success Dinner” from 4:30-6:30 p.m. April 8 in the Vintage Room.  Tickets are $5 and must be purchased by April 1 in the Career Services Office in the Thomas Administration Building, room 103.

Online workshops are also available on the Career Services website as well as information on such topics “Tips for avoiding job search scams,” Employers’ Advice to CSU Students” and “Job Search Strategies in Tough Economic Times.”

For more information about the Career Services workshops, call 559.278.2381 or visit Career Services.

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