Externship Success Stories

Want to learn more about the externship program? Wondering what it's like to be an extern? Read about these Cal students' externship experiences! These success stories show just a few of the many externship opportunities available to explore your career interests. Even if you're unsure about your career path, an externship can be the turning point to kick-start your future!

Externship Success Stories
Mass Communications, Sophomore	Externship: Schaaf Consulting Stephanie Cortez is a sophomore, majoring in mass communications. She is possibly thinking about political science as well, and explained how her externship allowed her to explore career paths and see what life was like beyond Berkeley. Stephanie heard about the Externship Program through word of mouth and decided to participate in it because she thought it would be a "great experience and exciting shadowing opportunity." She was selected to be an extern for Schaaf Consulting, which she felt was a good fit for her communications-based career path. Stephanie described her actual extern experience as an "inspiration.for who you can become" after graduating from Berkeley. She credited her sponsor as the main part of that inspiration. He explained the company and his own career path, and, over lunch, answered all her questions about life after Berkeley. One of most important aspects of the Externship Program is allowing students to spend time with Berkeley graduates, and Stephanie said she and her sponsor had "a lot to talk about" and discussed the fact that despite "how Berkeley has changed, it's still Berkeley." Stephanie cited this interaction as the best part of her externship; "speaking with a CEO and entrepreneur one on one" helped her realize that for Berkeley grads, the "possibilities are endless." When asked for advice to new undergraduates at Berkeley, Stephanie responded with "Get involved with externships! Take a wide variety of classes, talk to older people and get advice." She said that she feels students can "face a lack of motivation" but that her externship was "really encouraging" and that her sponsor "was an example" of a successful life after graduating from Berkeley.	Stephanie C.
Political Science, Junior	Externship: Misher Films and CNN "One of the reasons why I came to Berkeley was its ability to prepare me for life after college," said Tim Jaconette, a junior majoring in Political Science. A two-time participant in the Cal Externship Program and an ardent supporter of it, Tim explained that "it's one of the most valuable things UC Berkeley has to offer its students." After learning of the program through CareerMail, Tim completed two externships during two consecutive winter breaks, the first with Misher Films and the second with CNN. As the Executive Director of CalTV, Tim sought out externships that directly applied to his career interests. Realizing the difficulty of breaking into the media field, Tim knew the importance of getting his "foot in the door" and feels that his externships helped him do just that. Tim's extern experiences were nothing but positive. "I got to sit with pros, doing jobs I wanted to do in five or ten years. I got to ask every question I had," Tim said of his two externships. The fact that those pros were Cal alumni added to his overall extern experience. Tim explained that his sponsors "went out of their way" to set up meaningful activities, answer questions and introduce him to both other Cal alums and those who could enrich Tim's externships. Tim said his sponsors "looked at me and they had an interest in me; we had things in common." When asked for advice for new undergraduates at Berkeley, Tim responded that "the way you're going to get a job is through an internship, externship and extracurriculars.I realized the most important key to success is always taking initiative, asking questions, being outgoing and pursuing every possible opportunity." Tim encouraged all Berkeley students to complete externships, and expressed a desire to see the program grow. "Everyone was incredibly nice.I received internship offers.[my sponsors] keep in touch still," explained Tim. He feels he "can give knowledge to others" after having completed his externships, and realizes the importance of the extended Cal family in helping him do so.	Tim J.

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