Cal Poly prepares for National Transfer Week with a career readiness event

The Cal Poly Transfer Center previewed the celebration of National Transfer Week with Transfer Career Day, an event aimed at helping students sharpen their career skills and feel more confident navigating university life on Oct. 3.

Transfer Career Day welcomed both new and returning transfer students, offering workshops and networking opportunities designed to build career readiness. Students could connect with peers and campus professionals while learning how to craft strong résumés, improve interview confidence and strengthen their LinkedIn profiles.

National Transfer Week runs from Oct. 20–24, with events across the country celebrating the achievements and contributions of transfer students. At Cal Poly, the week will conclude with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new study space next to the Transfer Center in Building 52.

This fall quarter, Cal Poly admitted nearly 1,000 new transfer students. For many, the transition from community college or another four-year institution can be overwhelming.

“You’re here and they had all this time to grow into the place,” said Alan Kusparmakov, a computer science junior who transferred from Allan Hancock College. “Then you just show up. You’ve got to do a senior project next year. You’ve got to get on it, it’s a little worrying.”

Recognizing the challenges transfer students may face, the Cal Poly Transfer Center partnered with career services to host the event as a way to ease students into the campus community.

“We found that particularly incoming students are a little nervous about these big career fairs that we have on campus,” said Amy Saldaña, assistant director of the Transfer Center. “So this event was kind of designed to help students feel a little bit more comfortable and know what to expect.”

Saldaña said events like the Transfer Career Day are part of a larger effort to make the transfer experience more supportive and inclusive.

Throughout the day, students engaged in activities such as “networking bingo,” informal conversations and resource sessions to prepare for upcoming career fairs.

Students can also find the Transfer Center and Career Services tabling on Dexter Lawn during the week, where they will continue offering workshops and resources to promote career readiness.