Many students feel uncomfortable when they hear the word "networking," but it is necessary, as professional networks don’t just happen- they are created. And we promise it gets easier with practice!

Remember you are just seeking advice. Try to think of it as asking for directions in life or researching career possibilities. People (especially our incredible Brown alumni) want to hear from you and are just waiting to share their stories.

You can search for connections in the Brown community now by selecting "Alumni" in the drop down menu of the search bar on BrownConnect's home page.

Learn more: Embrace Networking (and Remember that BrownConnect Makes it Easy)

BrownConnect's Tip of the Week:

If you’re apprehensive about reaching out to alumni or looking for alums with a high likelihood of replying and providing help, apply the “Student/young alumni mentoring” filter under Networking Topics to find alums who have specifically indicated that they would like to hear from students!

With research to be done, papers to write, and courses to teach, building a network of potential future colleagues or mentors is often a piece of graduate career-building that falls through the cracks.

This week, we build on the theme of networking and focus on some resources that can ease the task of reaching out.

Read these Graduate Student Networking Tips

Undergrads - have you made your plans for January? Why not spend two weeks in New York, Boston, San Francisco Bay Area or Washington, D.C. completing an internship project in a social enterprise or non-profit organization? 

First-years through seniors can now apply for the 2019 Careers in the Common Good "Winternships." In prior years, selected students completed research, annual report production, web editing, event support, language translations, literature design, media creation and more.

This year's program runs January 7-18, 2019. Want to learn more?

1. Visit BrownConnect for complete information on CCG Winternships.
2. Join us for information sessions at CareerLAB at 12:00 p.m. on October 24 or 6:00 p.m. on October 28
3. Apply by the October 30, 2018 deadline.

Read more about CCG Winternships.

Want to improve your networking skills, get the inside scoop on available internships, or learn how to stay calm during the job search process? Make sure you update your Handshake settings so that your inbox gets filled with information about upcoming workshops that can teach you these skills!

1. Open your Handshake account and select the dropdown item for "Career Interests" 
2. Scroll down to "How can Handshake help you?"
3. Check the box next to “I want to find out about career center events" (this will ensure you learn about upcoming events that might interest you)
4. Scroll further and check off any industries that spark your interest under "Your Career Interests"

Update your Handshake preferences now.

Many highly valuable opportunities come right to Brown's campus with On-Campus Recruiting and some are found through student groups, in Handshake, and even via consortiums. With great power comes great responsibility - for everyone. CareerLAB's Recruiting has established policies and standards to ensure that everyone is treated fairly, no matter how the opportunity is found, plus gives Brown students sufficient time to engage in the recruiting process.

Read about these policies as well as tips to guard against fraudulent employers preying on unsuspecting students in this post: Knowledge is Power! Know the Recruiting Do's and Don'ts.

Extended Peer Career Advisor
Open Hours!

CareerLAB and the FLI Center are partnering to offer additional Peer Career Advisor Open Hours at a second campus location! Undergraduates are now welcome to drop by PCA open hours at the SciLi on Monday evenings to get quick answers to job search-related questions.

Undergraduate Peer Career Advisor (PCA) Walk-In Hours:
Sundays-Fridays, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
at CareerLAB, 1st floor, 167 Angell Street

-and- 

NEW! Mondays, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
at Sciences Library, 5th floor Commons

Graduate Student Walk-In Hours:
Tuesdays, 3-4 p.m.; Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m.; Thursdays, 2-3 p.m.
at CareerLAB, 167 Angell Street

See the complete calendar of CareerLAB events here.