Networking – It is a soft skill we all need, but for many, we are not comfortable using. For some, networking just feels awkward – while for others – it can feel pointless. When you are a graduate student and trying to break into a particular career field, networking can seem like a daunting challenge. However, even if you feel some apprehension towards it, networking is a valuable skill that can be vital toward a successful job search.
According to PayScale.com, somewhere between 70 to 85 percent of jobs are found through networking and approximately 80 percent of jobs are never publicly listed, but instead filled through networking and referrals. This is known as the “Hidden Job Market” and is definitely a faster route to landing a job rather than only sending out standard applications through company websites.
At the UC San Diego Rady School of Management, we understand how valuable networking can be for students and alumni, and provide multiple avenues to practice and effectively utilize this skill. For students, we offer opportunities to learn and connect with employers and alumni through, Employer Insights Panels, Information Sessions, Company Tours, and financial stipends to attend national conferences. For students AND alumni, we provide opportunities to network through career fairs, The Rady Network, Company Treks, and the CareersRady online platform.
Still unsure where to begin? If you are a current Rady student, you can try reading Jaymin Patel’s The MBA Guide to Networking like a Rockstar, which is available for checkout at the Career Connections front desk. I also recommend reading Learn to Love Networking from Harvard Business Review. It breaks networking down into four easy strategies that you can use the next time you want to reach out someone new.
Expand Your Network, Secure Your Dream Job was last modified: April 20th, 2018 by Jeanette Meliska-Romero
The interview process is finally evolving. A growth in entrepreneurism and technology is spearheading changes in how hiring managers interact and evaluate candidates. According to LinkedIn’s 2018 Global Recruiting Trends, the top five key evaluation tools adopted by employers are:
Soft Skills Assessments
Job Auditions
Meeting In Casual Settings
Virtual Reality Assessments
Video Interviews
What does this mean for candidates and those who support them?
New tools are making their way into the hiring process, but employer expectations remain the same. Employers still expect candidates to submit well-written resumes, have polished LinkedIn accounts, and know how to interview. General, behavioral, technical and case interviews will remain a core part to the hiring process.
Preparation is still the key to a successful interview. Preparation should now include time to learn more about these evaluation tools, how to perform at your best, and when to expect them within the hiring process. On the plus side, candidates will likely enjoy a speedier hiring process as more companies adopt one or more of these new tools.
Through the CareersRady system, Rady students and alumni can access online interview support technology such as Big Interview, Career Insider/Vault, Mock Interview, and GoinGlobal to help prepare and practice for interviews 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Rady students can also find a list of workshops, networking events and panels hosting business professionals, hiring managers and experts on career topics, including interviewing success.
To ensure Rady School of Management students and alumni are prepared and comfortable with the interviewing process, the Rady Career Connections team provides individual coaching and mock interview practice. Specifically, alumni and students can meet with a career coach to help identify their applicable experience, strengths and skill sets to focus on, and identify areas that need improvement before an interview.
How the Rady Careers Team Helps Students and Alumni Ace Interviews was last modified: March 20th, 2018 by Kathy Self
Acne, eczema, psoriasis – skin conditions can range from being uncomfortable to embarrassing to downright painful. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 85 million Americans and almost a billion people globally suffer from skin diseases.
Inspired by a need to help those suffering from various skin disorders, a Rady School of Management alumna created a dermatology company that recently partnered with Johnson & Johnson as part of a new collaboration aimed at creating new innovative treatments to help millions of people around the world achieve healthier skin.
Lada Rasochova (MBA ‘08) – who also serves as the executive director of the California Institute for Innovation and Development at Rady – started Dermala, a consumer dermatology company that uses the human microbiome to develop better treatments for skin diseases and various skin conditions based on technology licensed from the University of California San Diego.
The human microbiome is the collection of all microbes that live on and in our bodies. We have ten times more microbial cells than human cells and hundred times more microbial genes than human genes.
“The microbiome is very important for our health. When our body’s microbiome gets disrupted it typically results in a disease, including skin diseases,” Rasochova said. “When the microbiome is brought back into balance, health can be restored.”
Using a variety of microbiome-based products ranging from topical treatment to oral probiotics, Dermala targets the many causes of skin diseases without using harsh chemicals. For example, Dermala’s products for the treatment of acne inhibit acne causing bacteria while promoting beneficial bacteria in the microbiome which restores healthier, acne-free skin.
Dermala is not your average skincare company – in addition to topical and oral treatments, each customer will receive a microbiome sample collection kit. By measuring an individual’s skin and gut microbiome, Dermala will be able to optimize the treatments to fit the specific needs of their customers.
“Most consumer dermatology products are developed for an average customer,” Rasochova said. “Dermala is different. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution similar to all the other treatments currently on the market. We optimize the treatment based on the microbiome and treatment outcomes.”
The decision to partner with Johnson & Johnson was an obvious one. When Dermala launched, the company was accepted into JLABS, the Johnson & Johnson Innovation incubator that supports startup companies in the healthcare sector.
“Johnson & Johnson is a leader in consumer dermatology,” Rasochova said. “Being located at JLABS definitely helped us get noticed. This partnership with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC will help us accelerate the technology development and take it to market.”
Next steps
Dermala recently launched microbiome-based treatments for acne that received overwhelming positive feedback from its first round of customers. Currently, Dermala is working on incorporating into the treatment regimen the microbiome analysis and a mobile application that customers will use to track their treatment progress while using the Dermala products. In addition to acne, Dermala is also working on developing eczema treatments and several microbiome-based anti-aging products.
Rasochova credits her time at the Rady School for helping her develop and launch her successful business.
“My time as an MBA student at the Rady School was transformational,” she said. “It helped me, as a scientist, see the big pictures and see the business case really clearly. The Rady School helped me take the science and turn it into a business.”
#RadyMade Company Dermala Partners with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC was last modified: January 30th, 2018 by Hallie Jacobs
Graduation season is upon us, and thus, the job search has begun for hundreds of thousands of graduates.
Searching for a job is no easy feat, but the Rady School of Management’s Director of Career Connections offers tips and tricks to help applicants succeed throughout the job-seeking process.
1. Start early and talk to everyone
Communication is key – the more you TALK to people (not email, WeChat, text or tweet), the more you will learn from them and about what career you really want to pursue. Narrowing your focus is key when having conversations – someone is less likely to know how to help you or want to help you if your search is too vague (“a job in finance”) or simple outreach (“I’m networking”).
2. Use LinkedIn to find someone, then reach out to them directly
Most of the time, an email asking someone for a brief conversation is the best way to get a response. People have a lot to do during the day (especially those that are great at their job, and are who you really want to reach) and checking in on their LinkedIn may be at the very bottom of their priority list. Get creative on how to reach out to them – if they receive an email to their work address, you are more likely to get noticed (therefore increasing your response rate). The internet is your friend. Try to find how email addresses at the company are configured (firstname.lastname@companyname.com or firstnamelastintial@companyname.com) and then reach out that way.
3. Know what you’re asking, and lead with a warm connector
Make sure you have a well-written message and that it is easy for the reader to know what you want from them. The worst thing is for someone to read your message and not to know what to do (so what does this person want from me, or how do I help them). The easiest way to get a response is by starting the email with the connector: is the person a Rady School or UC San Diego alum (or alum of another of your alma maters); were you referred to them by someone, did you read an article that mentioned their name, their company; other ideas and then lead into the body of your message. Short, concise and tothe point is key!
4. Thank them for their time
Make sure you were listening, and taking notes. When you end the call, thank them for their time, advice and/or new connections. Most of the time, initial advice is shared as a test – will you follow up on any of it? If you have not written it down, you are sure to forget, and have no likelihood of following up. If you DO follow up, you can circle back with that person letting them know and thanking them (again) and hopefully they will share even more advice or contacts in their network.
5. Always ask for another contact
You have just had a great conversation. Why should it end there? You have shared your story and hopefully this person will now be an ally for you in your search. See who else they know at their company, at a former employer or in their network, and then follow-up with that person for the next conversation. If you keep this up, you will never run out of people to talk to and think of all you will learn.
6. Now go out and talk
There is no better advice for you – you have to talk to people. The more you do this, the more you will get comfortable talking to new people, the more you will learn and the more you will find a focused direction for where you want your next career move to be. Stop the research. Do not say you will start tomorrow. “Today is your day” (to quote the great Dr. Seuss) – so make sure people know who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish. Human nature is that they will want to help you if they can, and you tell them how. Have fun, smile and get to it!
4. Thank them for their time
Make sure you were listening, and taking notes. When you end the call, thank them for their time, advice and/or new connections. Most of the time, initial advice is shared as a test — will you follow up on any of it? If you have not written it down, you are sure to forget, and have no likelihood of following up. If you DO follow up, you can circle back with that person letting them know and thanking them (again) and hopefully they will share even more advice or contacts in their network.
5. Always ask for another contact
You have just had a great conversation. Why should it end there? You have shared your story and hopefully this person will now be an ally for you in your search. See who else they know (at their company, at a former employer, in their network) and then follow-up with that person for the next conversation. If you keep this up, you will never run out of people to talk to and think of all you will learn.
6. Now go out and talk
There is no better advice for you — you have to talk to people. The more you do this, the more you will get comfortable talking to new people, the more you will learn and the more you will find a focused direction for where you want your next career move to be. Stop the research. Do not say you will start tomorrow. “Today is your day” (to quote the great Dr. Seuss) — so make sure people know who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish. Human nature is that they will want to help you if they can, and you tell them how. Have fun, smile and get to it!
7. Work with the Rady Career Connections Team
All Rady students and alumni are able to receive help and support from the Rady Career Connections team. We are here to help you build your personal brand, craft that perfect cover letter and resume and secure your ideal career placement.
The Search is On – Tips for Job Seekers was last modified: September 5th, 2017 by Terra Saltzman-Baker
The Rady School of Management sent a small contingency of representatives to China and Japan to engage with corporate entities and alumni in Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo.
The trip, for me however, proved to highlight the impact of the Rady School across the globe. Dean Sullivan, Ernest Rady, Bosco Lujan (president of the Rady Alumni Board) and myself were impressed and inspired by the impact of the Rady School in China and Japan.
We began our journey in Shanghai where Professor Jun Liu coordinated many high level corporate visits. These partnerships will prove fruitful for our students and graduates alike. We capped our first day of meetings with a wonderful alumni celebration in Shanghai.
At the event we met Sam Chi (MBA ‘11) who took a four hour flight from Shenzhen to attend the event. He shared his product, Pegasi, which are smart glasses designed to help individuals monitor and improve sleeping habits. Later at the alumni event, Jackie Lu (MBA ’12) read a special tribute to Ernest Rady titled “Two Words More Meaningful Than ‘I Love You’: Thank You”. The tribute was a special collection of notes from alumni across the globe that Jackie had contacted.
After a short visit to Beijing, the group took off for Tokyo. There we met Charles Zhang (MBA ’10) who is currently the CEO of Baidu Japan, a rapidly growing internet services company with the mission to provide the best and most equitable way for people to find what they are looking for online . Charles has been essential in connecting Rady students and graduates with Baidu.
Rocky Mitsuhashi (MBA ’08) has been leading the Rady Alumni Tokyo chapter ever since he graduated from Rady. They are very active in getting together, recruiting new students, and organizing new student “send offs” in Tokyo. Rocky recently joined our Rady Alumni Board and will be participating from Tokyo and continuing his engagement efforts on behalf of the alumni community.
After many visits in Tokyo, we celebrated with the Tokyo Rady Alumni at a reception. This group gathers once a month to discuss ‘Rady business.’ I learned that they meet to celebrate when a student is accepted in to the Rady Program, to welcome an alum back to Tokyo from Rady, to help each other with career opportunities and more. The Rady Alumni Group in Japan is as vibrant and dedicated as I have ever seen!
The trip was an eye opening experience about the power of the Rady Alumni Network and positive impact our school is having across the globe.
Zachary Smith (MBA ’18) is the senior director of development at the Rady School of Management.
Visiting Rady Alumni Around the World was last modified: September 5th, 2017 by Zachary Smith
According to PayScale.com, somewhere between 70 to 85 percent of jobs are found through networking and approximately 80 percent of jobs are never publicly listed, but instead filled through networking and referrals. This is known as the “Hidden Job Market” and is definitely a faster route to landing a job rather than only sending out standard applications through company websites.
New tools are making their way into the hiring process, but employer expectations remain the same. Employers still expect candidates to submit well-written resumes, have polished LinkedIn accounts, and know how to interview. General, behavioral, technical and case interviews will remain a core part to the hiring process.
Acne, eczema, psoriasis – skin conditions can range from being uncomfortable to embarrassing to downright painful. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 85 million Americans and almost a billion people globally suffer from skin diseases.
into JLABS, the Johnson & Johnson Innovation incubator that supports startup companies in the healthcare sector.
Graduation season is upon us, and thus, the job search has begun for hundreds of thousands of graduates.
4. Thank them for their time
The Rady School of Management sent a small contingency of representatives to China and Japan to engage with corporate entities and alumni in Shanghai, Beijing and Tokyo.