1. In your own words, what’s the single most important skill or insight you walked away with?
My biggest takeaway was that networking is a skill you build intentionally, not something you suddenly start doing when you need a job. As a Berkeley student, I already meet founders, recruiters, alumni, professors, and other students constantly, but the real value comes from following up, staying connected, and building genuine relationships over time. It made me think more seriously about turning the connections I make into a long-term network instead of letting great conversations disappear after one event.
2. What’s the one part of the event you found most valuable and would want us to keep for future sessions?
I really valued how practical and recruiting-focused the session felt. It was especially meaningful hearing this perspective from a Berkeley alum who understands the environment we are navigating as students. I also loved the opportunity to connect in person afterward and seeing The Unspoken Rules up close made the whole session feel more memorable. I would definitely keep the in-person interaction and opportunities for students to actually talk with the speaker, not just listen to a presentation.
3. What recruiting challenge or frustration were you hoping this event would help you solve, and did it?
One of my biggest challenges has been figuring out what to do after I make a good connection. I attend career fairs, meet recruiters, talk with people at startups and larger companies, and collect a lot of contacts, but I have been trying to become much more systematic about following up and maintaining those relationships. This event helped reinforce that the relationship itself matters, not just the immediate application. I actually recently started building a running tracker for recruiters, opportunities, follow-ups, and professional connections, so the timing of this session was perfect.
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