Career Connections
Thank you for your interest in Career Connections! The pilot ended in March 2024. We are currently planning for next steps and look forward to future opportunities for you to participate.
For registered participants:
Welcome to Career Connections!
Career Connections is a pilot program designed to equip staff with the know-how and connections to navigate their future at Stanford.
As a participant, this page provides the information you need to take advantage of the valuable resources and opportunities offered through Career Connections.
Workshop and Event Registration
To confirm whether you have registered for workshops and events: Log in to Axess, then click STARS > All Learning. If you have registered, you will see workshops and events listed under the heading Action Needed: Launch/Complete.
If you need to register for workshops and events, click here. See Career Connections Calendar below for a list of dates and events.
Your Program Roadmap
The Career Connections pilot program includes the following components:
- Start Here (orientation)
- Career Bites Workshops
- Career Story Events
- Career Connections Platform
- Wrap-Up Bash
Start Here
In this orientation for the Career Connections pilot, you'll explore a framework designed to guide your career development, discover crucial details about the pilot program, and get tools and resources to maximize your pilot experience. Please attend one of the two date options.
View the Start Here slide deck
Career Bites Workshops
60-minute virtual sessions facilitated by University Human Resources or guest experts that fit comfortably into your busy day where you will engage in reflection, skill building, and limited group discussion. Please attend at least two of the four workshops.
Your Career Compass: Discovering Skills, Interests, and Values
Delve into your past work experiences to uncover the unique blend of skills, interests, and work values that define you. These insights will guide your exploration of what’s next on your career path. Whether you're growing in your current role or eyeing your next move, self-reflection is a powerful tool in fine-tuning your career compass.
Internal Networking for Career Exploration and Enrichment
Networking is a powerful tool at every career stage. Discover its value and build a toolbox of effective networking strategies tailored to your unique career aspirations. Learn the art of career chats (informational interviews) and how these conversations can offer valuable insights to guide your career decisions.
We’re here to reshape your perception of networking, making it both painless and immensely impactful. While we won't pressure you into breakout rooms, there’s an optional, relaxed networking opportunity at the end—a chance to connect with fellow participants in a supportive environment.
Storytelling Your Career: Techniques for Resumes, Interviews, and LinkedIn
Learn to craft compelling narratives that highlight your career experiences on paper, online, and in person. We’ll practice transforming career experiences into impactful resume bullet points, engaging interview stories, and a standout LinkedIn summary. Uncover the secrets behind impactful storytelling to showcase your unique skills whether you’re growing in your current role or aiming for new horizons. As an added benefit, this workshop provides an optional opportunity to connect with fellow participants in a supportive environment, allowing you to practice and refine your storytelling skills.
This workshop is facilitated by Urmila Venkatesh, Lecturer/Fellow in the Stanford Life Design Lab.
Empower Your Development: Strategies for Successful Career Conversations with Your Manager
You are in the driver’s seat of your career, but your manager is an important partner on your journey. Dive into strategies that bolster your confidence in preparing for career conversations and discover tips for navigating common challenges encountered in career discussions, equipping yourself to steer these talks toward productive outcomes. We’ll also delve into the essence of self-advocacy and communication skills. Learn how to harness these skills effectively, empowering you to drive meaningful and productive conversations with your manager.
Career Story Events
Join us for an hour of captivating conversation featuring distinguished Stanford leaders. These moderated discussions provide an exclusive glimpse into the career journeys of leaders who have not only thrived in navigating their paths at Stanford but also supported others along their career journeys. Discover insights and wisdom drawn from their rich experiences. Plus, dive into an interactive Q&A segment where you can explore career topics that resonate with you and glean advice from these seasoned leaders. Please attend at least one of the two events.
Fireside Chat
Featuring Shirley Everett, Ed.D., MBA, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Residential & Dining Enterprises and Senior Adviser to the Provost for Equity and Inclusion
Panel Discussion
Featuring:
- Victor Madrigal, Director, Alumni & Student Class Outreach, Alumni Association
- Steve Olson, Senior Associate Dean, Finance and Administration, School of Humanities & Sciences
- Nereyda Salinas, Assistant Dean for Professional Development, Graduate School of Education and Co-Director of Learning Partners, Stanford Accelerator for Learning
Career Connections Platform
The Career Connections Platform is a web-based hub for building meaningful professional connections within the Stanford community. Initiate one-time, one-on-one conversations to explore career possibilities, hear first-hand experience and insight from colleagues, and build connections. Use the platform to search Stanford’s vibrant community to:
- Connect in Career Chats to learn about other roles that interest you
- Interact in Collaboration Conversations to learn from and share best practices with colleagues in similar roles or who have completed similar projects
- Engage in Informational Chats to learn more about Stanford or other schools/units to help you in your role
- Build your network and get to know more people at Stanford
How to Get Started
- Review the Connecting with Colleagues guide for tips and techniques for successful one-time conversations, internal networking 101, and detailed FAQs.
- Use the Quick Start Guide for step-by-step instructions on registering for the Platform, creating your profile, and connecting with colleagues.
Platform Office Hours
If you need help getting started on the Career Connections Platform, join us for Platform Office Hours. Each Office Hour will begin with a 15-minute Platform demo; then we will address any questions you have about using the Platform or getting started with internal networking at Stanford. No registration is necessary; select a date that works for your schedule.
- Wednesday, March 13 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm
- Thursday, March 21 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm
- Monday, March 25 from 10:00 - 11:00 am
All Office Hour sessions use the same Zoom login:
Zoom login: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/91902535208?pwd=OWprdWZNQ0o3Tm42MU5MOFZlRFZIdz09
Passcode: 4978223
Wrap-Up Bash
Let's celebrate your growth and plan for what’s next! Reflect on what you have learned this quarter, set intentions for continued learning, get valuable tools and resources to support you on your journey, and share your feedback about the pilot experience. Please attend one of the two date options.
After each session, please check the description (above) for resources. Here’s what you can expect:
- Start Here and the Wrap-Up Bash: Slide decks and resources
- Career Bites Workshops: Slide decks and resources
- Career Story Events: Recordings and resources
Career Connections Calendar
If you have not already registered for workshops and events, please register in STARS.
Tuesday, January 30 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm Thursday, February 1 | 10:00 - 11:00 am | Start Here: Career Connections Orientation |
Thursday, February 8 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm | Career Bites Workshop: Your Career Compass: Discovering Skills, Interests, and Values |
Tuesday, February 13 | 1:00 - 2:00 pm | Career Story Event: Fireside Chat with Shirley Everett, Ed.D., MBA, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Residential & Dining Enterprises and Senior Adviser to the Provost for Equity and Inclusion |
Tuesday, February 20 | Career Connections Platform Launches (Details coming soon) |
Tuesday, February 27 | 11:00 am - 12:00 pm | Career Bites Workshop: Internal Networking for Career Exploration and Enrichment |
Wednesday, March 6 | 10:00 -11:00 am | Career Bites Workshop: Storytelling Your Career: Techniques for Resumes, Interviews, and LinkedIn |
Tuesday, March 12 | 3:00 - 4:00 pm | Career Story Event: Panel Discussion |
Wednesday, March 13 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm | Platform Office Hours |
Wednesday, March 20 | 2:00 - 3:00 pm | Career Bites Workshop: Empower Your Development: Strategies for Successful Career Conversations with Your Manager |
Wednesday, March 21 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm | Platform Office Hours |
Wednesday, March 25 | 10:00 - 11:00 am | Platform Office Hours |
Monday, March 25 | 12:00 - 1:00 pm Wednesday, March 27 | 3:00 - 4:00 pm | Career Connections Wrap-Up Bash |
Questions
Please review the Career Connections FAQs for detailed pilot information. If we have not answered your question, reach out to learningdev@stanford.edu.
Disability Accommodations
If you need a disability-related accommodation (such as sign language interpretation or live captioning), please email learningdev@stanford.edu. Requests should be made one week prior to the workshop or event.
Feedback and Enhancements
All participants will be requested to participate in short surveys throughout the pilot and a Pilot Wrap-Up Bash to provide feedback about their experience. Participant feedback will be used to help identify enhancements for potential future participants.