The Center for Career and Re-Entry Services, located in the Student Services room SS 350, is the one-stop destination for students seeking a job or internship, as well as for students enrolling at Rio Hondo College (RHC) who are older than 23 years old. The center’s staff and counselors are dedicated to helping adult learners succeed.
Career Counseling
The center is a subset of the RHC Counseling division. Samuel Nieto, the Director for Transfer and Career Services, suggested that the counselors’ and staff’s goal is to provide educational counseling, career guidance, and support services. He sees their role as helping students discern their path by demystifying the process of career preparation.
“We can help students think about their plan here at Rio,” said Nieto. “What are your goals? Are you currently looking for a job? We can help you with résumé writing, interviewing skills, and job search strategies.”
The Job Wall
A wall and a half of the center’s reception area is decorated with hundreds of flyers advertising jobs and internships. The center also offers access to the College Central Network. This national online job board provides employment, job search, and career information for students and alumni both on and off campus. In addition to counseling and job listings, the center offers help with résumé and cover letter development, as well as career assessment testing. Much of the career, interest, personality, and strengths testing is free; however, some tests have a fee associated with them.
Students can schedule an appointment with a counselor online by filling out a request form or in person by visiting SS 350. There are two full-time counselors, Troy Flores-Olson and Claudia Romo, and two adjunct counselors, Christina Anchondo and Vanessa Prieto.
Re-Entry Students
Each Fall, approximately 25% of all new Rio Hondo College students are re-entry students. The students receive wrap-around support at the center, which includes counseling appointments, academic guidance, and a dedicated staff member who provides them with information about campus events and activities. The purpose of the re-entry program is to facilitate a smooth transition into college life for individuals who may have been out of school for five years or more. Nieto reported that recent re-entry students have ranged in age from 23 to those in their 60s or 70s. Adjunct counselor Prieto, who is also an RHC professor of counseling 101, said that she understands her students.
Sympathetic Counselors
“I am an alumnus of Rio Hondo and a former re-entry student myself,” said Prieto. “I have four kids and went to community college for 17 years.”
Prieto encourages her students and her counselors not to give up. After stops and starts at several community colleges, she was identified with a learning disability. She sought the support that she needed and found success. She transferred to Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF), and earned her bachelor’s degree in human services. She then obtained a master’s degree from Cal State University, Long Beach, and is currently pursuing a doctorate at CSUF.
Targeted Workshops
In addition to center-based and online support, the Center for Career and Re-Entry Services also offers an average of two monthly workshops and events, such as the on-campus Fall and Spring Job and Internship Fairs.
The Center for Career and Re-Entry is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Student Services Room 350 (562) 908-3407
https://www.riohondo.edu/support-programs/academic-planning-tutoring/career-center/
Counselor Christina Anchando assisted RHC student Lilyana Guillen in job site
navigation and with her résumé and cover letter creation. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Rio Hondo College)
How to find an internship
Visit the College Central Network job platform to explore your opportunities. Next, meet with a career counselor at the center to discuss your goals and the type of internships you are considering, such as paid, unpaid, corporate, or non-profit.
The counselor will help you navigate where to look for internships. The Center for Career and Re-Entry Services has some local agencies that offer internships to students, as well as nationwide internships.
Director for Transfer and Career Services Sam Nieto recommends that students develop a strong and compelling resume.
“Resumes and cover letters can go a long way, especially for any competitive internship out there,” said Nieto. “We offer workshops and counselors, student success coaches go over resumes and cover letters, and offer feedback.”
