Career Services
Career Services at the State Capital Center are designed to help students find a great job while in school or afterward. A wide range of USC alumni and other policy practitioners in the Sacramento community participate in SPPD career services events. Workshops and events help you develop the skills, contacts and inspiration to seek fulfilling and rewarding careers in your chosen field. Some of the programs include:
An Evening With… - a lecture/networking series of talks designed to bring students and alumni together. Featured speakers in 2007 were Chester Newland, Grantland Johnson and Stan and Marcia Rosenstein.
Ask A Professional – professionals "on call" for career advice via email or phone
Business Etiquette Workshop – an opportunity to polish skills in a supportive environment.
Capitol Career Day – a day-long opportunity to learn about working in and around the state capitol.
Career Conversations @ Lunch –A number of professionals and alumni will come to the Center over the lunch hour to talk about careers: what they are doing, how they got there and how you might prepare yourself for a similar career.
Career Workshops - USC offers a unique career skills development ladder culminating in practice interviews with supportive and helpful alumni. Students must complete the resume workshop and either the interviewing or networking workshop prior to signing up for a mock interview.
Individual Career Advising – meeting with Career Services staff or faculty for individual advice, including introductions to professionals in the field(s) of interest for informational interview.
Informational Interviews – meeting with professionals to learn more about the field, gain career advice and suggestions of people to meet with
Internships – Students with less than two years full-time work experience benefit from participating in a paid internship and discussing career development experiences in class.
Healthcare Professionals Mixer- a chance to meet and greet healthcare professionals in the area.
Leadership Workshop- Team building and leadership exercises enhanced by a raft trip down the American River
Mentor Program – A mentor is a volunteer who will provide you with career advice, personal support for your career development and assist you with building your network. You will meet monthly for coffee, lunch or other activities and two to four times a year at USC-sponsored events.
MPA Labs – These workshops develop skills, knowledge and interest in topics not usually covered in the curriculum. MPA students pay a one-time lab fee that covers all their labs for two years. Other students and alumni will be invited to attend as space permits.
Mock Interviews – Does the thought of interviewing for a job send you into a panic? The best way to overcome your fear is practice, practice, practice! Mock interviews provide you with an opportunity to practice interviewing with a caring and supportive professional. Your interviewer will listen carefully and give you helpful feedback. Interviews will take place at the interviewer’s place of work. You must have completed the resume workshop and the interviewing or networking workshop prior to signing up for mock interviews.
Welcome Reception – an opportunity to meet other students, faculty, alumni and the Dean at the beginning of the academic year.
Links
Spring 2008 Career Events at the USC State Capital Center
Career Workshops, Mentor Program, Career Conversations @ Lunch, MHA Student Career Workshops, MPA Lab
Outreach and Recruitment Events
SPPD Career Services
For additional information on SPPD career services available in Sacramento, please contact:
Virginia Duncan Kaser
Director of Outreach and Career Services
University of Southern California
State Capital Center
School of Policy, Planning, and Development
1800 I Street, Sacramento, California 95811-3004
Tel: (916) 442-6911, ext. 26
Fax: (916) 444-7712
E-mail: kaser@usc.edu
