Overview

This February, we’re focusing on how you can get experience, which includes doing internships and other experiential learning opportunities. To support you wherever you are in this process, we’re offering Office Hours on February 13 (virtual), February 20 (virtual), and February 27 (at Mission Bay). Here are some ways we hope Office Hours will be useful to you: 

• You attend our workshop Getting Experience: Internships and More on February 12 and have some questions you want to follow up about 
• You have a question about your unique situation 
• You want to meet other people who are also looking to get experience 
• You’re working on our self-guided weekly prompts about networking, resumes, and finding opportunities for getting experience and you want to talk to someone about how it’s going, or create some accountability for yourself 

Prompts for this week

1. Set Networking Goals

Studies routinely show that about two-thirds of successful job-seekers find their roles through networking, not online postings. (A study of UCSF students looking for internships found the same thing.) This week, identify 5-10 specific companies or opportunities you are interested in, and try to identify at least one person connected to each.

2. Identify People and/or Organizations

Not sure how to expand beyond LinkedIn and UCSF Connect? You can start with our career paths pages. You can find lists of organizations for each career path, as well as names of a few UCSF alums in that career (under The Fundamentals).

3. Start by Reaching Out to One Person

Unsure of what to say? Start with our ground rules for contacting professionals and other resources on our informational interviewing page.

Office Hours are a great place to get input from career counselors, student leaders, as well as your peers. OCPD’s Researcher Team – Drs. Ray Care, Linda Louie, and David Blancha – will be joined by senior students from our Career and Professional Development Leadership Internship to discuss your questions. We look forward to talking with you! 

Who should attend

This workshop is recommended for students and postdocs at any point in the process of getting experience. We’d love to see you even if you aren’t able to attend the workshop. You’re welcome to come to as many Office Hours as you are able, especially if you want support or accountability for the weekly prompts. 

Format

Bring any questions that you have, or just come for support and community with others going through the same process. Multiple career counselors and peer mentors will be on hand for conversations and questions.