Staff Highlight: Claire Trias

By Dione Rivera

In our Staff Highlight series, a staff member at the Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership shares insights about their job search experience and career journey with Master of Engineering (MEng) students and Fung Fellows.

This feature focuses on Claire Trias, Student Services & Capstone Advisor.

What was the best career advice you received?

Sometimes rejection is a blessing in disguise. It means you’re being redirected to something better.

What was your most memorable job search experience (story)?

As I reflect back, it was applying for jobs months before graduating from college and how discouraging it felt being interviewed for jobs and not landing an offer. This process taught me the value of persistence and patience.

When did you realize your “A-ha” Moment in your career?

In 2013, I started working at Berkeley Law for the Berkeley Center for Law & Technology (BCLT) and a few months in to my job, I realized how much I enjoyed engaging with students and helping them navigate their way through grad school and that is when I was certain that working in higher education is where I wanted to be. My goal is always to continue to strive to be as resourceful and helpful as possible to students.

In retrospect, what is the career advice you would like to give to our MEng Cohort?

Take advantage of attending various campus MEng lunch presentations, networking events and career fairs available to you. This is one of the best ways to connect and practice your interpersonal skills with colleagues, employers, faculty, and staff. Also, you just never know who you will encounter in the process.

Contact Claire at ctrias@berkeley.edu.

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