Cal Poly Pomona’s workforce resource Bronco CareerWorks
By Bren Belmonte, March 10, 2026
As commencement nears, graduating computer science students such as Minh Doan said he faces the distress of competition in a fast-paced job market with the incorporation of AI.
When navigating the job and internship websites process, Cal Poly Pomona’s Career Center’s latest partnership with the staffing firm, CareerWorks, streamlines the hunt for students and alumni.
The partnership offers students a direct route connecting with employers to meaningful career opportunities, according to the email released by the Office of the President Jan. 26.
“I believe that all students should have access to well-paying jobs, especially with these current economic times where things are tough,” said Lauren Perea, the on-campus talent acquisition manager for Bronco CareerWorks.
Scheduling an appointment through CPP Connect with Perea matches students to national and clientele in the Los Angeles area. She advises coming in the appointment with an updated resume, cover letter and career ready.
“Utilize the Career Center,” said Heidi Hsu, lead peer intern. “People don’t realize how incredible this could be. You are guaranteed an interview. That’s all a student needs. They need an opportunity to be able to sit down and get that first interview.”
Director of the Career Center Tracee Passeggi, said Bronco CareerWorks expands existing resources such as meeting with a career coach, resume and cover letter help.
For alumni to access this resource, they fill out the Alumni Program registration form on the Career Center website.
In addition, students are considered for job and internship positions that are not publicly listed, according to the Career Center website. Bronco CareerWorks is connected from mid-size to large-sized companies spanning from Disney, PennyMac and ACCO Engineering Services.
“These companies just want to hire someone quick, and they don’t want to go through the hassle,” Hsu said. “I think it’s awesome having this resource on campus. It’s what every student wants.”
Perea said employers are searching for qualities such as confidence, readiness to put themselves out there, motivation and dedication. Bronco CareerWorks centers around students’ transferrable skills from classes to the workforce.
“The highlight is seeing it all come together,” Passeggi said. “When the announcement went out to campus, …within 15 minutes many appointments had been booked.”
After finding an internship through the Career Center, Doan said he will utilize Bronco CareerWorks and it can give students like him meaningful opportunities to set up overall success. After learning about Bronco CareerWorks, Doan said he feels more confident about entering the job market as an international student.
Located inside the Career Center, career coaches from each respective college are another resource for students to seek mentorship, encouragement and develop goal-oriented career planning.
“I would encourage all students to not only check out Bronco CareerWorks but to also check out the Career Center,” Paseggi said. “I’m excited to see where (Bronco CareerWorks) is going to take us.”
Feature image courtesy of Bren Belmonte
