Information Sessions

Whether you are planning an information session, a tech talk, a case interview workshop, or coffee chats, a well-orchestrated event can be an integral part of your overall campus recruiting strategy. It allows you to promote your organization, its opportunities and meet prospective candidates. We encourage you to contact Employer Relations to consult about the timing and location of your event.

There are currently no masking requirements on campus. Check with the venue for any updates or the University Health Services’ COVID-19 information page.

Step 1: Plan Your Date & Time
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Most information sessions happen during September/October for fall and February/March for Spring. We recommend that you coordinate the date of your information session with other campus activities, such as:
- career fairs;
- on-campus interview dates and deadlines;
- student organization events;
- EECS CAP events;
- holidays;
- the general UC Berkeley event calendar.
Examples are to host an event during your job application period or after a career fair.

Consulting Firms and Investment Banks Only

Important: review this list of confirmed investment banking and consulting events that have already been posted on Handshake. We ask that you choose a date and time not already taken by another employer to avoid conflicting events.

Step 2: Book a Venue
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Berkeley Career Engagement does not book events in the Blue & Gold rooms or at other campus/local venues. You must make all of the arrangements directly with the facility you choose. Once you have confirmed all details, post the event on Handshake.

Step 3: Advertise Your Event
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Always post your events Handshake at least 2 weeks prior as we need to review and approve each event. If you do not have permission to add events, contact employer relations. We also recommend that you:
- Request our Student Email Service to send your customized email to selected students in Handshake. This service costs $250/per message (for nonprofits and government organizations $150/per message);
- Use Handshake's tools to create a customized search and message students you would like to invite to your event;
- Invite student organizations to your event. Berkeley Career Engagement partners with certain organizations that want to collaborate with employers;
- Post your current jobs in Handshake and include the Handshake event link in the job descriptions.

Best Practices
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To ensure a successful event, we've listed some best practices based on our experience and student feedback:

For All Events
- The most popular days/times are Tuesdays-Thursdays between 5:00-9:00pm; duration should be 90 minutes or less
- Plan your event around other campus activities such as career fairs or interviews
- Bring Cal alumni and/or recent grads and ensure there is representation of diverse identities
- Highlight your company culture and what a day-in-the life is like
- Describe current projects, demo products, and provide specific information on jobs and application deadlines
- Engage students in candid conversations, including overcoming challenges
- Smaller events are better for engaging students as they are less overwhelming and intimidating
- Always have food and drinks for in-person events!
- Host virtual events geared towards Berkeley, not all Handshake schools!
On Handshake
- Give your event an eye catching and clear title to grab students' attention, e.g. 1:1 Resume Chat with Cal Alumni at Google
- The description should capture students' interest
  - Brief organization description
  - Event format and who will be there
  - Topics of discussion
  - Link to Handshake job postings
- Host UC Berkeley only virtual events, if possible

Information Sessions

For All Events

On Handshake