University of California Berkeley Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 11
Building Your Network
What Does it Mean to Network?
Where Do I Network?
Networking refers to the process of connecting with
people and building relationships. It’s about meeting
new people, sharing information, and learning about
potential opportunities and various career fields.
Everywhere!
Think about all of the places you go to interact with
people:
Networking Can Lead To Opportunities
Employers fill the majority of job openings through
the unadvertised, or hidden, job market – and your
network is essential to finding these opportunities.
The contacts you make, if cultivated and used wisely,
can lead to future employment.
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Career Fairs, Panels, Networking Nights
Social Networking Sites/LinkedIn
Classes/Conferences/Seminars
Work/Volunteer Meetings/Social Gatherings
Professional Associations
Every interaction can create the opportunity to
engage with a variety of people.
My Berkeley
My Berkeley is an online portal designed to enhance
alumni engagement and streamline relationships
across Berkeley’s alumni network, students, and
campus organizations.
Where Do I Begin?
Many students are concerned because they erroneously believe that in order to network they need
to know people in positions of power who can
ultimately offer them a job. The fact is that everyone
has a network; it’s just a matter of thinking broadly
and creatively about who is in it. There is a good
chance that either someone you know (or someone
they know) works in a field that interests you. Start
with making a list that includes:
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It’s easy for students and alumni to tap into the Cal
community by sending messages and requesting
online or in-person meetings based on their professional interests and goals.
Join the community at https://my.berkeley.edu/
Friends, classmates and peers
Family
Neighbors
Present or former teachers
Present or former employers/co-workers
Members of organizations to which you belong
Professional acquaintances
Counselors
Alumni
Religious & Spiritual affiliations
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