Welcome to 

CALLING ALL STUDENTS 

Calling All Students is an easy-to-use service. Our purpose is to connect current graduate students with other graduate students and resources that will allow you to share ideas and opportunities.

Please join the interactive CAS Wiki to start sharing and view valuable resources. 

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Now that you are here on the CAS wiki, in the top right corner there is a link to create an account. You will need to create a User name, password, and include your email and any additional information.

Please begin exploring and sharing any related information, resources, comments, and contacts by clicking on the folders on the right and/or by adding comments below.

Social Capital:  A Worth-while Investment

Focusing on social capital is essential to becoming integrated, and staying competitive, in the global marketplace. Social capital is about building relationships and making connections to diverse groups of people through interpersonal network management.  It refers to the available resources one has as a result of relationships that have been formed on a basis of reciprocity.  Reciprocity works on the principle of the law of attraction.  In order to receive gains from social networks, one must contribute by being available as a resource to others.  An important condition for participating in social capital management is that it be approached from an altruistic mindset.  Social capital requires paradigm shifts in thinking about how social networks function and how/why societal contributions are made.  

Informational Interviews

One of the best ways to learn about a career field, industry, or career path is to find out what it is like from others who have been there. You can gain valuable inside information from talking to someone in your field of interest, which includes learning about the day-to-day responsibilities of a position, getting insights into industry trends, or learning about required training or education for career success. This approach to information gathering lets you make connections with people who are in the position to help you find a place of your own in that field. "Making a connection" (otherwise known as networking) is an essential step in the transition from student to professional. Especially when the job market seems tough, who you know can make all the difference to your job search.

Benefits of Informational Interviewing

• Get firsthand and relevant information about the realities of working within a particular field, industry, or position. This kind of information is not always available in print.
• Find out about career paths you did not know existed.
• Clarify your initial goals and how a particular career may match your interests, lifestyle, and future plans.
• Improve your communication skills by talking informally with an interested professional.
• Develop job search skills. Resume writing and job interviewing become much easier when you have a good sense of what interests you and how your background and skills match the qualifications of a particular field, industry, or job.
• Initiate a professional relationship, and expand your network of contacts in a particular career field.

http://career.berkeley.edu/Plan/Connect.stm