Texas Border Business
HARLINGEN, Texas – Placing more Texans in great-paying jobs is the mission of Texas State Technical College, and TSTC’s statewide Career Services department is committed to offering students who are close to graduation the professional assistance that they may need to get hired.
Sandra De La Garza and Kelly Guajardo share that commitment as TSTC’s Career Services representatives at the Harlingen campus.
The Career Services department offers services to TSTC students such as resume writing, practice interviews, help with job searches, and other resources.
Garza said her job has inspired her to find more effective methods that can build students’ confidence.
“It’s important that current students understand what we instill in them are lifelong skills they will gain,” she said.
Garza, a Donna resident, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2021.
She noted that planning an employer spotlight is a challenging part of her job.
“Our goal is to find potential employers to spotlight for the students,” she said. “This helps create job leads by the time they graduate.”
Guajardo, of Rio Hondo, said her motivation to help students stems from personal experience.
“I can relate to our current students because I’m an alumna of TSTC,” she said.
She said the college’s relationship with industry employers makes her role rewarding.
“I enjoy seeing the students make an authentic connection with the employer,” she said. “That communication opens a window of opportunity where they discover the career paths available at that company.”
Zadop Osorio, of Harlingen, is studying for a certificate of completion in Wind Energy Technician. He said De La Garza helped polish his resume.
“I appreciated her eagerness to help me,” he said. “Recently I performed online research about some local wind energy companies,” he said. “I’m interested in applying because they offer excellent career growth.”
Viviana Espinoza, TSTC’s acting vice president of Career Services, said De La Garza and Guajardo are part of a vital resource for the college.
“They support professional growth and prepare students for successful careers,” Espinoza said. “By fostering professional networks, they significantly enhance the value and impact on the student body.”
