JOIN BERKSHIRE SCHOOL CONNECT Berkshire’s Networking Platform

By Robin Gottlieb

Do you want to connect with Berkshire classmates socially and professionally? You’re invited to join Berkshire School Connect, a directory and professional networking platform. Use the platform to find mentors, job openings, internships, and introductions, as well as social opportunities, such as events, groups, and discussions. These resources provide alumni with the opportunity to form meaningful and lasting relationships with fellow Bears across generations and locations.

Berkshire School Connect is an invaluable tool for a wide range of alums, including college students hunting for internships, recent college graduates seeking professional direction, seasoned professionals interested in guiding other alumni on similar career paths, and business leaders looking to post internship and job openings to a broader community.

Jensen Hellmers ’17 calls Berkshire School Connect the “family Rolodex’’ that he turned to when he embarked on a career in the tech sector. Alumni helped him strategize for his interviews and discuss career paths, and they offered him referrals.

“Berkshire School Connect enables you to develop relationships with alumni who have walked the path before you, both personally and professionally,” he said. “You can identify people within industries you’re most interested in, majors you studied, see who’s close by geographically, and find possible mentors.”

Hellmers said the shared Berkshire experience unites alums across generations, and that it’s important to him to foster those relationships.

“Every single alum has walked through Buck Valley, eaten meals in Benson, competed fiercely on the same fields, possibly had a first kiss, and developed a love for learning at Berkshire,” he said. “These shared experiences are powerful and important to stay in tune with and draw upon as you grow, move across the world, and meet new people.”

Steve Hord ’86 knows the importance of “paying it forward.” As a software development manager at Amazon, he is eager to share internship openings through Berkshire School Connect. And recruiting Berkshire alums gives Hord assurance that he’ll get a highquality candidate. “Your first career move can be important,” he said. “It can possibly set the stage for future growth. I feel that I can make a big impact by helping someone make their first professional leap.”

In his time at Amazon, Hord has met a number of other Berkshire alums who, like him, were advisees of Tom Young, a faculty member from 1968 to 1995. “We try to get together when we can, we have that common bond with one another,” he said.

Tyler Wilmot ’12 studied computer science in college with every intention of being a software engineer. After several internships and a few months working in that field, he realized it wasn’t the right fit. He ultimately had conversations with alumni, friends, and family in different industries, and he found it extremely helpful in his career journey.

That’s why Wilmot believes there are great advantages to a career networking platform like Berkshire School Connect. “Being an alum of Berkshire makes you part of a unique community of like-minded people,” he said. “I’ve found that by simply having the connection of being a Bear, people are happy to connect, chat, and help how they can.”

Wilmot is also very motivated to provide the same assistance to any alums seeking career guidance. “Beginning a career today requires so much more than good grades and a degree,” he said. “More often than not, your work and internship experience are equally as important as your education credentials.

Everybody at some point is looking for a foot in the door with no experience or trying to figure out what they want to do when they grow up.”

Kevin Soja, Berkshire’s associate director of advancement, is pleased that alums are using the platform, and he’s encouraging others to join.

“Berkshire has formed a tight-knit community under the Mountain—but when students leave our campus, that community extends around the world,” he said. “Berkshire School Connect lets alums tap into their strong connections with one another and the School. I hope more Bears will continue to take advantage of this great resource.”

Berkshire School Connect offers:

Alumni Feed

Post and chat with other Bears, and read up on the latest happenings at Berkshire.

Alumni Directory

Search for fellow alums and find latest contact information.

Mentoring

Connect with possible mentors or volunteer to mentor a fellow Bear.

Job Board

Post or view a variety of professional opportunities, including internships and parttime and full-time positions.

Events

Set up a public or closed event for the Berkshire community, and create an invite list.

Business Directory

Promote individual businesses and allow users to search for key business owners (e.g., womenowned, and minority-owned).