Support Page Content
Career Development
-- IN DEVELOPMENT --
Our Hive. Our Home. Our place to develop and grow.
Take Charge of Your Career!
Create a personalized development plan that aligns with your unique strengths and passions. Our interactive menu will guide you through each step to craft a successful career strategy. Plus, explore a wealth of additional resources to support your journey.
Ready to get started? Let's make your career dreams a reality!
- NEW! Sac State Employee Career Development Plan [Coming soon!]
- Manager Toolkit for Career Development Conversations
Reflect and Self-Assess
Stop and reflect on your strengths, passions, skills and experiences. What motivates you? What do you enjoy doing? What comes easy to you?
Take advantage of specialized tools that guide you through a reflection of your strengths, interests, knowledge, skills, abilities and personal preferences.
Review Your Career History
Document your career history (or "master" resume) or in some cases a CV, that lists: every job you have worked (including the month/year of the start and end), transferable skills, accomplishments, education, committee work, awards and recognition, and other details. You can later use this to create a tailored resume for specific job applications.
- Tip: Consider building a professional LinkedIn profile with this information, or simply use LinkedIn as your career history record.
Reflect: What are your key skills, strengths, and experiences in your career history so far? Does your career history reflect the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for your dream job?
Complete a Career Self Assessment
A career self-assessment tool can reveal your interests, values and skills; focus your job search; explore career options and make career decisions.
Focus 2 Career guides you through a reliable, intuitive career-decision models to explore occupations, make informed career decisions and take action in your career development.
Login to Focus 2 Career using your SacLink user name and password. Scroll down to the Self Assessment section. Complete the five assessments (which takes about 60-90 minutes to complete), then "Combine Your Results" to view occupations that match your strengths.
Explore Labor Market Insights from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. This public tool helps you identify skills, training, median wages and employment trends to make informed decisions.
- Tip: Save, print, and share your outcomes with a manager, mentor, or Learning and Development specialist to begin a career development discussion.
Note: Sac State employees (and alumni) can access many of the same online Career Center tools as our students. Take advantage of these resources!
Skills Search feature at O*NET – Provides a soft skills list —interpersonal and thinking skills - needed to interact successfully with people and to perform efficiently and effectively in the workplace. Learn how they match up with various occupations.
Skills Matcher - Matches your skills with possible career options that might be a good fit.
Holland Code Quiz - This free career quiz uses the scientific Holland Code model to show you which jobs will suit your interests, talents, and aptitude.
Explore Your Options
Consider how you may wish to advance your Career at Sac State.
The primary ways staff advance at Sac State include:
- Individual Contributor
- Lead Roles
- Management
Explore Your Aspirations
Now is the time to do some research. Explore jobs that you aspire to obtain. Look at job titles and descriptions for Sac State and at other campuses within the CSU, even if you do not meet the requirements -- yet. Dream.
Search...
Network and Build Relationships
Seek out coaching and mentoring from supervisors and colleagues. Foster positive work relationships. Consider asking to meet with someone in an aspirational position for coffee and do an informational interview.
- Attend campus events and network; ask questions about other employees' roles
- Search LinkedIn Learning for tips on informational interviewing, listening, and networking skills
- Prepare informational interview questions, see Ten Questions to Ask in Informational Interviews
- Plan for aspirational interviews
- Engage with a professional mentor
- Check out the mentoring program offered by EDUCAUSE
Plan Your Path
Begin a Career Development Plan
You have looked at your dream jobs, jotted down the requirements, and highlighted education and experience you are missing. Now is the time to create an individual development plan to fill in those missing gaps.
Also consider these options:
Consider the CSU Employee Fee Waiver
- Use the CSU employee fee waiver and reduction program to take courses and gain education to meet requirements. If the courses are not available at Sac State, perhaps they are available online at another CSU campus.
- Search Degrees at the CSU.
- Source: If the source is "Campus" it will be covered by the fee waiver program. If the source is "Extension" it is NOT covered by the employee fee waiver program and the participant must pay full fees. Note: Sac State CCE Programs and Certificates are NOT covered by the employee fee waiver program and participant must pay full fees.
- Format: Fully F2F = Fully face-to-face (on-campus in-person); Online = the program is completely online.
- Not sure what courses to take or how to select a major? Use Focus 2 Career to complete self-assessments for career planning. Select "Combine Your Results" to see occupations and majors that match your strengths.
- Review the Tips for Cal State Apply section.
Consider Additional CSU Program Options
Other CSU state-funded programs that may help you reach your goals:
- Student Success Analytics Certificate Program, Email [email protected]
- Higher Ed Administration & Leadership (HEAL) Graduate Certificate program at CSUDH
- Middle Leadership Academy for CSU faculty, staff, researchers and students to collaborate on common issues related to student learning, engagement, progression and completion.
- Academic Applications of Artificial Intelligence micro-credential through SDSU (free canvas course to CSU employees, no fee waiver needed)
- CSU's WebAIM Accessible Document Training Certificate
Build Experience
- Ask to take on a stretch assignment at work to develop new skills
- Consider volunteering to gain experience to transfer to your dream job
Start a Career Journey on LinkedIn Learning
Use LinkedIn Learning to develop in individualized Career Journey. Go to My Sac State > LinkedIn Learning. In the left navigation, select "My Career Journey"; complete the career goal and choose skills to unlock your personalized learning plan.
Consider Your Personal Brand
- What are you known for?
- Do people trust you?
- Do you have a growth mindset?
Do you need to renovate your reputation? How has your work performance and interactions formed your reputation?
- View Creating your Personal Brand for ideas about re-thinking your personal brand and reputation.
Land Your Dream Job
Resume, Application and Interview Preparation
Did you find a job for which you are interested in applying? Schedule time to prepare for the application, resume and interview processes.
Customize Your Resume and Cover Letter
- Go to My Sac State > Linked In Learning, and review one of the many resume courses available. Some, for example, Writing a Resume, have exercise files that you can download to help you with this process.
- Review the internet for samples and tips for resumes in your career interest, as well as updating your resume for a career change (if applicable)
- Cover letter: Even if optional, write an application cover letter
- Double check: If you were reviewing your resume, could you easily and quickly check off each of the Required Qualifications listed on the job posting? Are all Preferred Qualifications you possess apparent as well?
Complete the Application and Additional Materials
Applications are a non-biased way for HR to collect information from you to see if you meet the minimum requirements for the job. Don't skimp on this, and don't put "see resume" - even though it might be tempting.
Print out or save a copy of the application so that you can see what information will be requested. You may copy and paste some information from your resume, if you wish.
Complete the online application and any additional questions fully. Be sure to upload additional materials such as your resume, certificates, etc.
Glossary of Application Terminology
Priority Application Date: The date after which the committee will begin reviewing applications. Applying by this date whenever possible will increase your chances of being reviewed within the first group of applicants. If you are entitled to priority consideration because of a Hiring Preference (see below), applying by this date will ensure your application is considered in isolation from the external applicant pool.
Hiring Preference: Is the hiring committee required by collective bargaining agreement (union) language to give first or priority consideration to certain applicants? Please note: If a job has been posted publicly on “careers.csus.edu” the position is open to all applications, including those outside of the hiring preference. If you are outside of this priority group, you may experience a delay in hearing back regarding your application status.
Anticipated Hiring Range: The department’s most accurate estimate of an expected starting salary rate for a successful candidate. This range cannot account for all internal hiring scenarios (i.e. required promotional increases that may exceed the anticipated max range).
CSU Classification Salary Range: The absolute minimum and maximum an employee can make in a certain classification salary range, as set by the CSU Chancellor’s Office. This provides transparency towards potential future salary progression.
Prepare for an Internal Interview
Pretend you are an external candidate and prepare as if you are walking into an interview where no one knows you, your work, or your job. Remember, the committee has been instructed to consider what is shared in the interview and application materials - that's it. You must answer questions fully so that they can equitably compare you against any external candidates that may also interview.
- Prepare to rock the interview and practice interviewing
- Research common questions and have a friend or family member ask them of you
- Practice using the STAR interview response technique
- Dress professionally. Wear something you feel both confident and comfortable in. If your interview is a video conference (i.e. Zoom) ensure your background is clean, professional, and free of distractions.
- Once you interview, send a “thank you” email to whoever helped schedule the interview. Ask them to share your thanks with the search committee/hiring manager.
Resources
- NEW! Sac State Employee Career Development Plan [Coming soon!]
- Manager Toolkit for Career Development Conversations
Consider utilizing resources like additional courses, online materials and books to effectively manage your career both now and in the future.
Advance Your Career without Leaving Your Institution, Educause article
Rock Your LinkedIn Profile, LinkedIn Learning, 1h 16m
Build a Skimmable Resume, LinkedIn Learning, 5m
Taking Ownership in Your Career, LinkedIn Learning, 51m
Creating a Career Plan, LinkedIn Learning, 41m
Managing Your Career: Early Career, LinkedIn Learning, 1h 8m
Ted Talks Playlist: Counterintuitive Career Advice, website
High Performance Habits (Blinkest Summary), Linkedin Learning, 17m
Career Management for Life, CSU Learn ebook
Power Skills: Working with Your Personal Strengths and Weaknesses, LinkedIn Learning, 23m
Listening, LinkedIn Learning, 25m
Accelerating Your Career with Personal Branding, LinkedIn Learning, 38m
Communication Best Practices, CSU Learn bundle
Moving the Needle: Get Clear, Get Free, and Get Going in Your Career, Business and Life, CSU Learn ebook
Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness, CSU Learn ebook
Tips for Cal State Apply
Interested in using the Employee Fee Waiver program and plan to apply for admittance to a CSU campus? Here are some tips for the Cal State Apply process.
Eligible Employee with a Degree
The CSU Fee Waiver and Reduction Program offers two enrollment options for employees: the Career Development Option and the Work-Related Option. Most employees use the Career Development Option. To do so, they must complete Cal State Apply to go through the regular admission and matriculation process before enrolling in courses.
Applying to Sacramento State While Having a Degree
Employees who already hold a degree and wish to be matriculated (at Sac State) to pursue a second degree, certificate, or other educational goals may need to follow a Admissions Appeal exception process.
To prepare for the application process, take a moment to first view the available 2nd bachelor programs, visible in Cal State Apply through their Application Dates and Deadlines. This will help you determine if you can apply through Cal State Apply or if you may need to complete an Admissions Appeal.
Attempt to complete Cal State Apply.
Select the Entry Level and Enrollment Term, then after submitting, scroll down and select Sacramento State, and a list of the open second bachelor's options becomes visible.
If your desired program is not an option for a second bachelor’s, please pause the application process.
Reach out to the degree’s department chair to obtain written approval for the major course of study, then submit an Admissions Appeal. Prepare an appeal statement that explains why you are requesting an appeal and submit proof of earning your degree.
- Sample appeal statement: The CSU Employee Fee Waiver Program provides employees with the opportunity to enroll in career development [or work-related] courses necessary for improving skills applicable to existing employment with the CSU. I am applying for admission to CSU Sacramento to complete a [… name of academic goal…]. I have received approval from my supervisor to pursue this academic goal.
- Evidence: Proof of earning a bachelor's degree.
Following the steps above can help an employee (with a degree) navigate Cal State Apply and utilize the fee waiver program to pursue an academic goal in alignment with their Career Development plan.