Career Development Workshops

All staff career development workshops and career coaching sessions will be held remotely until further notice. Registrants will be sent a link to participate online.

Spring 2022 Workshops

Download, print and share the Spring 2022 Staff Career Development Flyer.

These workshops help UC Berkeley staff develop clarity and action plans to connect their interests and abilities with career opportunities. All spring offerings will be held virtually via Zoom.

To register, click on workshop titles below or log in to the UC Learning Center and search by title.

You are a Berkeley Changemaker! ™

Tues., 1/25/22, 12 - 1 pm

This Berkeley Changemaker series will focus on excerpts from the book, The Conversation – How Seeking and Speaking the Truth About Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations, by Dr. Robert Livingston. Dr. Livingston will join us as a special guest for this conversation! Read more about The Conversation here. While we encourage everyone to read the book, it is not required for participation. We will introduce concepts from the book for discussion.

Facilitators: Ché Abram, Chief of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, School of Public Health, Rich Lyons, Chief Innovation & Entrepreneurship Officer & former Dean of Berkeley Haas, and Katrina Pantig, Learning and Development Strategist Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, People & Culture

Special Guest: Dr. Robert Livingston, Author & Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard University

Finding Zen in Chaos

Wed., 1/26/22, 12 – 1 pm

There is no denying that the last two years have been a source of loss, grief, and chaos with covid-19, racism, political unrest and our shifting work environments. How can professionals in academia who are service oriented take care of themselves during these challenging times? What tools and practices do you need to continue to manage your life and career? During this interactive workshop, you will: Examine the challenges you are currently facing. Learn mindfulness tools to help you manage your current challenges. Discover the one game changer that can make the biggest impact in your life and career.

Presenter: Samorn Selim, Founder and Creative Joy Director, Career Unicorns

LinkedIn Basics

Wed., 2/9/22, 12 – 1:30 pm

LinkedIn is a great tool for establishing an online presence, conducting career research, and facilitating connection with other professionals. This workshop addresses the basics for effectively setting up all sections of one’s LinkedIn profile.

Presenters: Esha Bharati, Talent Acquisition Advisor, and Miah Compton, Talent Acquisition Associate

New: Cover Letter Writing Practice Lab

Thurs., 2/17/22, 3 – 4:30 pm

Here’s a common scenario: You come across an ideal job posting and you’re eager to apply. However, you feel stuck because you want to write that standout cover letter to communicate that you are the most skilled and enthusiastic candidate for the role. Yet, you are not sure how to best focus your message. In this experiential practice lab, we will review the purpose and elements of compelling cover letters. We will share examples and guide you through writing your own exceptional draft cover letter. For optimal engagement, please come to this practice lab with a selected job posting of your choice that you would like to use as the focus for your cover letter draft.

Presenters: Linda Lundberg, Transition Services Lead, People & Culture, and Lisa Rykert, Career & Professional Development Lead, People & Culture

New: Resume Writing Practice Lab

Thurs., 2/24/22, 3 – 4:30 pm

You know your skills and experience are a great match for that job you applied for and you didn’t even get invited to an interview. It’s also important to know that on average recruiters spend 7.4 seconds scanning a resume before they decide yes or no on the next step (source: Ladders, 2018). In this experiential practice lab, we will review strategies and give you time and guidance to effectively format and tailor your resume to help you stand out and get the interview. For optimal engagement, please come to this practice lab with a selected job posting of your choice that you would like to use as the focus for your resume draft.

Presenters: Linda Lundberg, Transition Services Lead, People & Culture, and Lisa Rykert, Career & Professional Development Lead, People & Culture

LinkedIn II: Maximize Your Online Professional Presence

Thurs., 3/3/22, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is serving you by understanding how to best communicate to your target audience. This workshop is a chance to incorporate tips from a UC Berkeley Talent Acquisition Advisor. We encourage you to login in to LinkedIn and view your profile to assess and apply what you learn during this workshop.

Presenter: Tara Hertstein, Talent Acquisition Advisor, People & Culture

Design Thinking: Skills to Build Your Career

Thurs., 3/17/22, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Feeling stuck? Unsure about your next career step? Curious about how to get started in a new field or role? This workshop employs design thinking to explore how you can create a sustainable life and work where you thrive. Learn tools to help you navigate your career path, get unstuck, and try out easy changes to increase your wellbeing and satisfaction at work.

Presenters: Rebecca Andersen, Sr. Director of Student and Alumni Career Development, School of Information, and Julie McShane, Director of Career Development and Alumni Relations, Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership

New: Networking Readiness for People from Underrepresented Communities – Breaking Walls that Stop Us from Experiencing the Beauty and Power of Networking!

Wed., 3/23/22, 12 – 1:30 pm

There is a lot of information available on how to effectively network and overcome barriers and hesitations such as being an introvert, feeling uncomfortable approaching a stranger or finding this kind of interaction awkward and exploitative. Guidance that is commonly provided is certainly relevant and helpful but typically based on the assumption that everybody’s experiences are similar. Networking can be especially challenging for those who are not yet adequately represented at higher levels of institutions. Barriers include cultural differences and bias, lack of access to networks that can open doors, or the difficulty to show one’s authentic self in conversations where it doesn’t feel safe or makes it harder to connect.

UCB staff panelists from diverse backgrounds will share their experiences with networking and discuss strategies that help them navigate some of the barriers resulting from underrepresentation and discrimination. This workshop is intended to be a safe space to share experiences, post questions and learn from each other.

Panelists: Fatima Alleyne, PhD, Director of Community Engagement and Inclusive Practices, College of Engineering, Em C. Huang, MEd, Director, LGBTQ+ Advancement & Equity, Gender Equity Resource Center, Harpreet Mangat, PhD, Executive Director, Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Institute, and Isela Pena-Rager, Assistant Director, College of Letters & Science, Undergraduate Advising

Facilitator: Claudia Gey, Program Manager, Berkeley Institute of International Studies and the Center on the Politics of Development

Work Style and Your Career with they Myers-Briggs Type Indicator(MBTI)

Thurs., 3/31/22, 3 – 4:30 pm

It’s no surprise that people like to approach tasks differently. Understanding your preferences and those associated with various work roles can help you make informed effective choices. This workshop uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). PRE-WORK REQUIRED. Instructions for taking the MBTI (at least 3 days in advance) will be sent in your registration confirmation.

Presenter: Kate Zuby, Career Counseling Outreach Coordinator, University Health Services

New: Informational Interviewing Practice Lab

Thurs., 4/21/22, 11:30 am – 1 pm

Thinking about a career move? Have questions about the field or how to get there. Expand your toolkit and connections by learning how to conduct engaging informational interviews, including how to prepare, questions to ask and ways to continue to build the relationship. In this experiential session, attendees will have ample time to practice informational interviewing with one another.

Presenters: Linda Lundberg, Transition Services Lead, People & Culture, and Lisa Rykert, Career & Professional Development Lead, People & Culture

The Skills You Bring

Wed., 4/27/22, 12:30 – 2:30 pm

The skills you enjoy and feel confident about contribute to strong performance and job satisfaction. Explore your transferable skills – the ones that support your career mobility and adaptability.

Presenter: Kate Zuby, Career Counseling Outreach Coordinator, University Health Services

Interests in Life & Work with the Strong Interest Inventory (SII)

Wed., 5/4/22, 1:30 – 3:00 pm

The term “interests” has very specific meaning in career development. Clarify how your interests influence the work you enjoy through the Strong Interest Inventory. Explore how interests relate to job families and opportunities on campus. PRE-WORK REQUIRED. Instructions for taking the Strong Interest Inventory (at least 3 days in advance) will be sent in your registration confirmation.

Presenter: Chris McLean, Ph.D. Assistant Director, Career and Academic Programs, University Health Services