SDSU Career Services

What SDSU Career Services does

SDSU Career Services is the centralized career development department within San Diego State University, a public institution in the California State University system. The department serves undergraduate and graduate students, alumni, employer partners, and the broader San Diego and Imperial Valley community through a portfolio of services that includes one-on-one career counseling, resume and interview preparation, mentoring, internships, job placement, and specialized workforce pathways for students with disabilities, veterans, and international students. Operations are organized across four functional teams: Career Management, Industry Relations, Infrastructure and Outcomes, and Leadership, with 39 total staff and an additional college-specific center at the Fowler College of Business.

The technology stack is anchored by Handshake as the primary career services platform for job and internship postings, career fair registration, appointment scheduling, and student-employer messaging, supplemented by Mentor Collective for the Aztec Mentor Program, Aztec Network for community-wide professional networking, and Big Interview for interview practice. The department also operates SDSU Works!, a pilot internal staffing agency that places students on the university's payroll while billing employer clients, and an AI Career Co-pilot pilot embedded in Handshake using ChatGPT-powered prompts for resume and career advising. All student- and alumni-facing core services are free; revenue is generated from a four-tiered employer sponsorship program ($1,000 to $10,000 annually), career fair registration fees, the SDSU Works! staffing agency premium, and a diversified base of federal, state, foundation, and corporate grants led by the U.S. Department of Labor and California Employment Development Department at the $1M+ tier.

The department positions itself around measurable employment outcomes rather than service delivery volume, with industry-aligned programming, dedicated Industry Consultants, and 10+ annual career fairs across specialized verticals (STEM, business, healthcare, hospitality, education, nonprofit, graduate school). It operates a virtual front desk via Zoom, a Calexico extension at SDSU Imperial Valley, and partnership-driven programs including WorkAbility IV (with the California Department of Rehabilitation), eWorks! Career Leagues (healthcare and public service), the Oaxaca Global Health Internship, and the Aztecs Going Pro student-athlete internship program.

Name

SDSU Career Services

Legal name

San Diego State University

Website

https://career.sdsu.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SDSU Career Services is the centralized career development department of San Diego State University, providing career counseling, employer recruiting, mentoring, internships, and workforce pathways for students, alumni, and employer partners across San Diego and Imperial Valley.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

University Career Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Temporary Help Services (561320)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Career Services & Career Readiness (EDALABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alumni Career Networking & Mentorship Programs (EDALAOAL), Career Coaching, Mentoring & Placement Support Services (EDAAAKAO), Supported Employment & Job Coaching (EDAKANAE), Alumni, Peer & Community Networking Programs (EDAMAKAM)

Keywords

• Career development services
• University career services
• Employer recruiting
• Student career counseling
• Internship placement

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Employer Sponsorship Packages: Four-tiered employer sponsorship program (Partner $1,000, Plus $3,000, Premium $5,000, Elite $10,000) providing recruitment advantages including career fair tables, on-campus tabling, information sessions, employer spotlight features, sponsor wall visibility, preferred table locations, student mixer tickets, Resumania invitations, website logo placement, sponsorship luncheon access, Handshake pin listings, ongoing consultations, staff presentations, and social media takeovers. All sponsorships accepted on open-enrollment basis with benefits claimed within the same fiscal year (July-June).
2. Career Fair Registration Fees: Standard registration for career fairs includes one 6-foot table, two chairs, meals for two representatives, free on-campus parking, and wireless internet. Additional representative fee of $50 for third representative. Nonprofit discounted booth rates available at most fairs. Cancellation deadline is two weeks before the fair with $50 administrative fee.
3. SDSU Works! Staffing Agency Fees: Pilot staffing service where SDSU Works! acts as a recruiting agency placing students on SDSU payroll while charging employers a premium for the service. Employers engage through exclusive partnership benefits including DEI best practices, online resources, webinars, and consulting services.
4. External Grants and Funders: Career Services receives funding from multiple external sources: Employment Development Department and U.S. Department of Labor ($1,000,001+); Strada Education Foundation, Border Region Talent Pipeline K-16 Collaborative, Bank of America ($250,001–$1,000,000); Alaska Airlines ($100,001–$250,000); Aztec Parents SDSU, Enterprise Mobility ($10,001–$100,000); Sprouts Farmers Market, County of San Diego, Pfizer, Sherwin Williams, San Bernardino County Sheriff Coroner, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, U.S. Department of Defense ($1,000–$10,000).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

SDSU Career Services is a university career center that provides career counseling, job and internship search support, employer recruiting, career fairs, mentoring, and workforce development services to San Diego State University students, alumni, and employer partners. The department operates the Handshake platform for job/internship postings and appointment scheduling, runs the Aztec Mentor Program through Mentor Collective, hosts 10+ annual career fairs, and offers specialized programs (SDSU Works! staffing, eWorks! Career Leagues, WorkAbility IV) supporting employment outcomes across all nine SDSU colleges and regional campuses.

Product overview

SDSU Career Services operates as a centralized university career center offering a multi-module service portfolio centered on career development, industry connections, and employment outcomes. The core infrastructure includes the Handshake digital platform for job postings, employer recruiting, and appointment scheduling, complemented by in-person and virtual programming. Key products include the Aztec Mentor Program (one-to-one mentorship via Mentor Collective), SDSU Works! (an internal staffing/recruiting agency for direct-hire and internship placements), eWorks! Career Leagues (esports-style cohort career coaching for healthcare and public service), WorkAbility IV (disability-focused career services), Career Fairs (multi-industry recruiting events), and Industry Consultants (expert advisory appointments). Employer-facing offerings include Sponsorship Packages, Recruitment Services, and Internship Design and Deployment. Specialized sub-products serve international students, military veterans, and other student populations. The department serves all eight SDSU colleges and operates from Student Services East, with additional support for the SDSU Imperial Valley campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Aztec Mentor Program (AMP): Mentorship program connecting SDSU students with industry professionals through one-to-one mentoring facilitated by Mentor Collective platform
• SDSU Works!
• eWorks! Career Leagues
• WorkAbility IV

Products and services

• Aztec Mentor Program (AMP)
• SDSU Works!
• WorkAbility IV
• eWorks! Career Leagues
• Career Fairs
• Internship Central
• Industry Consultants
• Employer Sponsorship Packages
• Military and Veteran Career Services
• International Student Job Search Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• SDSU ranked No. 11 in the nation for graduates moving into lucrative careers (Wall Street Journal)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and moderate.

• GooglemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2023Google partnered with SDSU Career Services for internships and talent pipeline creation. Google IT Outreach team conducted on-campus recruiting visits (Oct. 11-12, 2023) to recruit SDSU students for internships. The partnership supports Google's recruitment strategy at the university level.
• HandshakecoreTechnology or IntegrationHandshake is SDSU's preferred and exclusive career services platform, serving as the central hub for job/internship postings, career fair registration, appointment scheduling, employer recruiting management, student profile visibility, and direct messaging between students, alumni, and employers. All SDSU students receive Handshake accounts associated with their SDSUid.
• Mentor CollectivecoreTechnology or IntegrationMentor Collective is the mentorship matching platform powering the Aztec Mentor Program (AMP). It enables one-to-one mentoring connections between SDSU students and industry professionals, facilitating survey-based matching based on mentee preferences, mentor backgrounds, and career goals. Matching begins each semester.
• Aztec NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationAztec Network is SDSU's professional networking platform enabling staff, faculty, alumni, students, and donors to expand professional networks, find and promote work opportunities, share events and resources, and participate in the Aztec Mentor Program. Open to the entire SDSU community.
• State of California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOR partners with SDSU Career Services and Student Disability Services to deliver the WorkAbility IV program, providing specialized career services for students with permanent disabilities. DOR counselors make eligibility determinations and facilitate provision of career and employment services.
• Student Disability Services (SDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Disability Services partners with Career Services to deliver WorkAbility IV program, providing equal access to career development services for students with permanent disabilities through academic support, assistive technology, interpreting services, and disability counseling.
• Joan and Art Barron Veterans CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeterans Center partners with Career Services to plan programs meeting student veteran career needs, including networking opportunities with veteran-friendly employers and specialized resume review services.
• Troops to Engineers (T2E)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTroops to Engineers program partners with Career Services to support career development of military and veteran students, particularly those seeking engineering and technical career pathways.
• San Diego Workforce PartnershipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development partner collaborating with Career Services on career management and industry relations activities. Part of strategic plan goal (by June 30, 2025) to forge collaboration on workforce development.
• Federal Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal program available through WorkAbility IV for students with disabilities to access federal employment opportunities and recruitment.
• State of California Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerState civil service program available through WorkAbility IV for students with disabilities to access state government employment opportunities.
• VetSuccess on CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVA-VBA partnership with SDSU providing additional support and resources to veterans accessing benefits to attend school, facilitating educational success through Career Services collaboration.
• Associated Students (A.S.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociated Students partners with Career Services to support A.S. Career Advantage events for student career development and job placement. Three new events announced in 2024 in collaboration with campus partners.
• Aztecs Going Pro Summer Internship Program (Athletics)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletics department partnership delivering internship program transforming lives and careers of student-athletes. 16 students selected for inaugural program in summer 2023, with ongoing program delivery.
• Global Health Internship Oaxaca PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organizations in Oaxaca, Mexico providing clinical shadowing and hands-on experiences for SDSU Nursing and health sciences students through a six-week summer program delivering clinical skills, cultural lessons, and empathy development.
• Interwork InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSDSU Interwork Institute is a key partner in a Department of Labor-funded program extending collaboration to assist policymakers on employment of disabled youth, conducting research, developing partnerships, and sharing best practices.
• SDSU Imperial Valley - Regional K-12 PartnersmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerImperial Valley RISE Center Program partnered with seven area high schools engaging over 250 students in health professions career pathway guidance, supporting the Imperial County Health Professions Pathway Program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• LinkedIn (Career Services / LinkedIn Learning): LinkedIn operates a much broader professional networking and recruiting platform that overlaps with SDSU Career Services across job listings, employer-student messaging, alumni networking, and increasingly AI-driven career coaching. It is a broad incumbent rather than a direct competitor because it does not run campus-anchored programs.
• Indeed: Indeed is a broad incumbent in the online employment and recruiting category, competing with Handshake and university career centers for entry-level and internship job postings. It is a broader, horizontal player rather than a focused university-career-services competitor.

Direct peers

• UCLA Career Center: UCLA Career Center is the most direct peer: a centralized university career services office at a large California public university, offering career counseling, employer recruiting, career fairs, Handshake integration, and specialized programs for diverse student populations. Extremely comparable mission, structure, and employer-facing revenue model.
• Stanford Career Education (BEAM): Stanford Career Education (BEAM: Bridging Education, Ambitions, and Meaning) is a centralized career center delivering career coaching, employer recruiting, fellowships, and alumni networks. Comparable in service portfolio and outcomes-oriented framing, though operating at a higher-resourced private institution.
• UC Berkeley Career Center: UC Berkeley Career Center operates the same campus-anchored model with career counseling, employer recruiting, Handshake-based job listings, career fairs, and alumni engagement programs. Comparable scale, public-university setting, and broad employer sponsorship program.
• USC Career Center: USC Career Center provides comprehensive career services to a large private university population, with employer events, mentorship, and Handshake-backed recruiting. Comparable in scope, employer-facing services, and outcomes-focused positioning, though operating inside a private institution.

Emerging players

• Roadmap (formerly CareerBuilder for Education): Roadmap is an emerging player in the career-services software space, providing AI-driven career coaching and job-matching tools that universities can license. Emerging alternative to in-house career services for the technology and AI-coaching layer SDSU is piloting.

Others

• EAB (formerly Advisory Board Company): EAB is a higher-education services and research firm that advises university career centers and student-success offices on strategy, technology, and employer partnerships. It is an ecosystem participant and indirect peer because it shapes how career centers like SDSU operate and benchmark.
• Handshake: Handshake is the underlying career-services platform SDSU uses and is the dominant platform for university career centers. Listed as a peer/ecosystem participant because it is both a core technology partner and a potential competitive substitute as it expands career-coaching and AI tools directly to students.
• CSU Career Center Network (system-wide): The California State University system operates 23 campuses, each with their own career centers that share funding sources, employer networks, and a Chancellor's Office branding. SDSU Career Services operates within this system and could be benchmarked against CSU peers statewide.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SDSUVideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/SDSUCareerServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sdsu-career-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/sdsucareerservices
• TikToktiktok.com/@sandiegostateuniversity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SDSU Career Services