THE BEACH BEYOND
Senior Send-Off: Invest in Your Success
Presented
SENIOR SEND-OFF
Topics
Welcome .......... Dan Montoya, VP, University Relations & Development
Table Etiquette and Dressing for Success .............................
Business Skills
Networking .................................................................................
Mentoring & Grad School ................................................
Diane Lee ‘83
Diana Bourcier ‘93
Nancy Luong ‘09
Lindsay Sterk ‘11, ‘22
Table Mentors
Diana Bourcier ‘93
Vince Calles '13
Sam Camarena '17, '21
Noemi Guevarra ‘08
Diane Lee ‘83
Nancy Luong ‘09
Arianna Pruett
Lindsay Sterk ‘11, ‘22
Ilana Tel-Oren ‘11
Dear Future Alumni,
Congratulations on achieving this significant milestone in your academic journey! As you prepare to cross the stage, you carry not only the knowledge and skills acquired during your time at CSULB, but also the values and experiences that will shape your future endeavors.
As you transition from student to alum, I encourage you to stay connected to your alma mater and remain an active member of our vibrant community, which boasts over 400,000 alumni! Your journey with us doesn’t end here; it evolves into a new phase where you continue to grow, contribute, and benefit from your affiliation with CSULB.
Your Beach familystands ready to support you through helpful resources such as Beach Nexus, our student-alumni connections platform that facilitates networking based on common interests, career objectives, location, and much more; the Career Development Center, which provides professional-development services for up to one year after graduation; and CSULB Alumni, which will help you stay connectedto the people, programs, and activities that mean the most to you.
Once again, congratulations on your upcoming graduation. We wish you much success in your future. You are always welcome at CSULB and at our home, the Anna W. Ngai Alumni Center.
Go Beach!
Noemi Noemi Guevara, ‘08 Director of Alumni Engagement
California State University, Long Beach
Dress for Success
Anatomy of a Place Setting
Level Up Your LinkedIn
Is my profile picture professional?
Does my headline reflect my interests and skills?
Have I created my unique URL? Header Checklist
Am I connected to my CSULB network?
STAR Method - Situation Task Action Result
Do I have digital assets to upload from internships or group projects? Content Checklist
Extra Credit
Connect with someone you met tonight
Follow an organization that you would like to see on your Feed Engage with a post that speaks to you
Press Play: Podcast Playlist
Browse current events, industryspecific news, and career tips.
Here are some vetted podcasts to help kick off conversations.
30-Minute Episodes
The Week Unwrapped The week’s most significant stories that may not have received widespread attention (30 mins)
Today, Explained Taking listeners through the top news stories (30 mins)
The Gist Covers a range of critique on American politics, breaking news stories, sports, entertainment, and more (30 mins)
Morning Brew Daily Unpacking the biggest headlines in the business and tech world (30 mins)
The Intelligence Fresh episodes every weekday, delivering global news with depth and clarity Uncovering the stories that shape our world and explaining why they matter (30 mins)
BBC Global News Podcast The day’s top stories in 30 mins
Planet Money (BBC) Taking any topic & tying it back to the economy. We explore the forces that shape our lives. (25-30 mins)
The Daily (The New York Times) A 20-minute podcast that dives into one or two major news stories each weekday
The Take (Al Jazeera) Interview-driven, in-depth insight into what’s happening in the world, and why it should matter to you. (25 mins)
Long-form for your long drives
The Globalist Covering international news includes 60 minutes worth of coverage on current affairs, business stories, and European headlines
Skimm THIS does a great job of breaking down the headlines and giving listeners the lowdown on what matters You’ll get a mix of intrigue and fun, along with the serious stuff And without any bias Tackles important topics that impact women, and empowers generations of women to live smarter
Bite sized: 15 minutes or less
NPR Up First The three biggest stories of the day, with reporting and analysis from NPR News (10 mins)
BBC News Summary News summary from BBC World Service (2 mins)
News Brief (The BBC) A concise summary of the day's top stories (5-10 mins)
The Good News Highlights the good happening in the world with uplifting news stories (5 mins)
The Indicator Simplifying complex economic topics: from inflation to global trade, they break down the latest financial news in an accessible and engaging way (10 mins)
Economist The World in Brief: What’s on the global agenda in the coming day – in business, finance and politics – and what to make of it (10 mins)
The Newsworthy A daily podcast that provides a quick overview of the news, with a weekly recap of the most important stories (10 mins)
The Journal Produced by The Wall Street Journal, delivers sharp episodes every weekday, covering the biggest stories in business, tech, the economy, and politics (15 mins)
Extra credit: Tying news to your daily life
More or Less: Behind the Stats What do crime statistics really mean about our cities? Do we really eat a credit card’s worth of microplastic every week? Are companies really making more from their customers today than in years past?
Health Check Covering global health issues and medical breakthroughs.
Spolitics explores how sports intersect with race, gender, sexuality, culture, and politics. It’s not just about the games it’s about how sports shape our world and reflect its biggest issues
Financial Education Center
LBS Financial knows you face important financial decisions every day and we are here to help! This program will equip you with the critical knowledge and skills you need to make the financial decisions that are best for you.
https://lbsfcu.everfi-next.net/welcome/lbsfcu
https://www.moneycrashers.com/adulting-life-skills-grown-up/
Prep Your 2-Minute Elevator Pitch
You only get one chance to make a great first impression! The first step to preparing your pitch is to develop your content by filling in at least two to three specific examples for each box. Include information that tells a story, and easily generates questions.
EDUCATION
(i.e. which courses or professors have inspired you?)
TOP STRENGTHS & SKILLS
(i.e. are you a problem-solver? how is your verbal & written communication?)
ACHIEVEMENT & SUCCESSES
(you define success - small or large!)
TARGET ORGANIZATIONS
(what kinds of orgs interest you? non-profit/for-profit, small/large?)
ACADEMIC PROJECTS
(research or papers, student projects)
INDUSTRY/FIELD KNOWLEDGE
(what trends do you see? have you had an internship? what do you notice in the news?)
YOUR TURN! Sample pitch format:
“Hi____, my name is___. I am studying___and will graduate in___. I am looking to/I am interested in____. I recently worked on a project that___. I am interested in learning about___. Can you tell me more about___.”
Unlock Your Success: Attitude = Gratitude Nancy Luong ‘09
Attitude = Gratitude = Success
WHAT: SHOW GRATITUDE
SAY THANK YOU!!! AND mean it!!! When someone helps you, gives you an opportunity, or supports you, acknowledge them I can't emphasize this enough: a simple "thank you" can go a long way
WHO: THE PEOPLE WHO HELP YOU
Anyone and everyone Your mentors Your professors A friend who connected you to an opportunity Someone who interviewed you The barista who remembers your coffee order The janitor who keeps your space clean!!
WHEN: RIGHT AWAY (OR EVEN LATER, BUT JUST DO IT!)
Express gratitude in the moment Don’t wait But if you have waited? It’s never too late I recently thanked a mentor I hadn’t seen in 15 years Time passed, but my gratitude never expired I let him know, and it mattered
Where and HOW? SAY IT, WRITE IT, GO THE EXTRA MILE
Say it out loud to the person
Send an email!
Want to stand out? A handwritten thank-you card will put you in the top 1%!!
Also say WHY YOU ARE THANKING THEM If you need examples use ChatGPT/Google!
WHY: GRATITUDE OPENS DOORS
People remember gratitude It makes you stand out in a world where most don’t take the time to appreciate others It builds relationships, strengthens connections, and creates goodwill When you show up with gratitude, opportunities follow It’s not just polite—it’s powerful!
PRACTICE TODAY!
Think of one person who has helped you recently Send them a thank-you message right now—email, text, or in person Small action, big impact!
CONNECT AND GET INVOLVED WITH CSULB ALUMNI!
FREE VIRTUAL EVENTS FOR CSULB ALUMNI
Explore career paths, gain industry insight, connect with alumni, and hear what prominent alumni executives and experts have learned throughout their careers.
Check out the Alumni Events lineup for upcoming 49er Industry Chats, Lifelong Learning Webinars, and other virtual events. opportunities!
MEMBERSHIP
Claim your digital alumni membership card and take advantage of membership benefits at no cost!
BEACH NEXUS
Join Beach Nexus, CSULB’s Mentoring and Networking Platform! Create your profile to explore career paths, jobs and connect with students, alumni and community.
BEACH VOLUNTEERS
Join us for an upcoming volunteer opportunity! Serve as a docent, or join us at an event with Beach Cabana, and more!
BEACH FUNDER
It’s easier than ever to make your gift through Beachfunder, CSULB’s online giving platform. Support a cause that is close to your heart today!
CAREERS IN SUSTAINABILITY
Regardless of your major or intended career path, your job can be a sustainability-related job!
Sustainability is not limited to workers with specific degrees or within specific fields. The key is to approach your chosen field with a mindset of environmental and social responsibility, finding innovative ways to incorporate sustainable practices and priorities into your work.
SCAN THE QR CODE FOR TIPS ON:
Resume-boosting training and certifications
Exploring potential career paths
Determining if an employer cares about sustainability
Where to find green jobs and more!
As the demand for sustainable practices grows, so does the variety of career opportunities! Set yourself apart from the competition by embracing the green jobs movement!
The O ce of Sustainability commends you for all the hard work and dedication you’ve demonstrated to achieve this monumental milestone!
Before you embark on your next chapter, we encourage you to show your Beach pride and commitment to being a positive changemaker by becoming a Green Grad!
csulb.edu/greengrad
As a Green Grad, you commit to prioritizing sustainability during commencement season and beyond.
BECOMING A GREEN GRAD IS AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!
1.
Take the Green Grad Pledge to demonstrate your comittment to promoting sustainability wherever your career takes you and setting an example for others.
2.
Commit to using only sustainable alternatives to metallic confetti and glitter during your graduation photoshoots as metallic confetti and glitter can pollute the environment.
3.
Learn how sustainability can be incorporated into various fields and careers (see reverse side).
Graduates who sign the Green Grad Pledge by April 20th will be entered for a chance to win a free professional graduation photoshoot!
Thank you to LBS Financial Credit Union for the resources and services they provide to the CSULB community.
We are grateful for The Grand's continuous partnership and support of CSULB student and alumni programming.
We would like to acknowledge the generous donation from the University Bookstore. The University Bookstore is a non-profit auxiliary of CSULB, supporting the campus since 1953.
