University of California Athletics

Career Development Pillar

The Career Development Pillar provides services to ensure that Cal student-athletes are well-connected to a strong and robust network of alumni and professionals, and positioned to land a Golden Opportunity upon graduation and flourish in their chosen careers. Services are designed to help student-athletes learn more about themselves and the world of work to make informed decisions about their careers. Through the Career Development Pillar, student-athletes are equipped with the job tools and resources needed to succeed professionally. Please see below for a description of each service.

Cameron Institute Four-Year Guide to Landing a Golden Opportunity

The Cameron Institute Four-Year Guide to Landing a Golden Opportunity is designed for Cal student-athletes in alignment with The California Way. It presents the recommended key tasks and experiences to be completed each year to prepare for entering the world of work (defined as any form of employment, including professional athletics) or graduate / professional school.

The Golden Bear Network

The Golden Bear Network is Cal Athletics’ signature online platform that connects Cal student-athletes to professionals and alumni for career support. Student-athletes can directly connect to professionals for internship and job opportunities, job shadows, informational interviews,  and resume and cover letter reviews, as well as access career development resources.

Visit The Golden Bear Network and make an account to support student-athletes!

Career Readiness Seminar

The Career Readiness Seminar (designed for sophomores - open to all student-athletes) is a hands-on, 2-unit course designed to help student-athletes learn about their career selves, learn about the world of work, and create polished career tools. All work is completed in class, and student-athletes walk away having identified their top five career interests and three job titles that align with their interests, conducted two informational interviews with professionals working in a job that interests them, created a complete LinkedIn profile, written a polished resume and cover letter, and more.

1:1 Career Advising

Advisors are available to meet 1-on-1 with student-athletes to help them write a resume from scratch or review and improve an existing resume, assist student-athletes in their job or internship search, and provide guidance on any other career advising topics.

World of Work Experiences

World of work experiences are designed to provide student-athletes with exposure to the professional working world. Through internships, micro-internships, job shadows, and short-term projects, student-athletes can engage in hands-on opportunities to build skills and connections that set them up to land a Golden Opportunity upon graduation. World of work experiences offered through the Cameron Institute can be found on The Golden Bear Network’s jobs & internship board. Job shadows will be offered during a few windows during the year to accommodate student-athletes’ busy schedules. New to The Cameron Institute for the 2024-25 academic year are micro-internships offered by Parker-Dewey. Micro-internships are a great way for student-athletes to perform project-based work while accommodating a busy schedule. To offer a world of work experience to Cal student-athletes, fill out this form or email CameronInstitute@berkeley.edu.

Cal Student-Athlete Mentorship Programs

The Cameron Institute offers two mentorship programs to junior, senior, and 5th-year student-athletes. The different programs are intended to provide student-athletes with several options to pursue mentorship that fits their goals, interests, and schedule. Each program will connect a student-athlete to a mentor who can provide insight and knowledge on career development and support throughout their career process. 

Alum & Professional <> Cameron Institute Mentorship Program

Student-athletes pair with a professional, often a former Cal student-athlete, to help the student-athlete accomplish career-related tasks and prepare to land a Golden Opportunity. The match can last anywhere from six months through the student-athlete’s graduation. The student-athlete determines the frequency and duration of their meetings and what career-related tasks fit the student-athlete’s career goals. This program is designed for student-athletes of all career interests, including those pursuing a career as a professional athlete.

Haas <> Cameron Institute Mentorship Program

Student-athletes pair with an MBA student mentor from the Haas School of Business to accomplish career-related tasks and prepare to land a Golden Opportunity. This is a cohort-based mentorship program, with each cohort lasting a semester. One in fall and one in spring. The student-athlete determines the frequency and duration of their meetings, and they can renew their partnership for the following semester. This program is designed for student-athletes interested in business, finance, consulting, marketing, and grad school.

 To learn more about our mentorship programs or to get involved, email CameronInstitute@berkeley.edu. 

Community Engagement Pillar

The Cameron Institute for Student-Athlete Development recognizes sport as a bridge for community building and a platform for social justice. We aim to build a culture of engaged service within Cal Athletics rooted in reciprocal and sustained community partnerships. Our vision is for all Cal student-athletes to recognize and use their platforms to make a positive and sustained difference in our community; and in the process, build the knowledge, skills, perspective, and commitment to engage critically and “Say Yes to their Community” during and beyond graduation.
 

Community & Student-Centered Engagement

Through the Community Engagement Pillar, student-athletes and Cal Athletics teams can engage in a supported cycle of community collaboration and civic-minded service across three “strands” of engagement. Level of commitment increases across the three strands. Three Cal Athletics initiatives provide entry points for Cal student-athletes and teams to have a positive presence supporting early college awareness through engagement with school-based community partners: 

• Go Bears, Go Play
• Go Bears, Go Read
• Experiencing Cal

Learn more about our partnerships, and explore Bears in Action on the Community Engagement Hub.  

Visit the Community Engagement Hub!

Mental Performance Pillar

 Within the Mental Performance Pillar of the Cameron Institute, comprehensive sport and performance psychology services are provided to student-athletes, coaches, and teams. Coaches who opt-in to the Caseload Model have an assigned mental performance consultant to work with their team. The mental performance consultant is available to provide Student-Athlete One-on-One Sessions, Team & Small Group Sessions, and Coach Consultation. The services aim to optimize mindset, performance, sport well-being, team culture, and leadership. Please see below for a description of each service.

1:1 Mental Performance Consultation Sessions for Student-Athletes

One-on-one mental performance consultation for student-athletes is available upon self-referral or referral from coaches or staff. Student-athletes should schedule an appointment with the assigned mental performance consultant for their team. One-on-one sessions are designed for student-athletes interested in a single session, short-term, moderate-term, or longer-term consultation with a Certified Mental Performance Consultant to enhance their mindset, performance, leadership, or experience in sport. Potential areas include confidence, resilience, motivation, concentration, and competitive anxiety, to name a few. For student-athletes who are interested in long-term, multi-session consultation, an initial session can be the first step toward that option. There are 50-minute and 30-minute options, and in-person or Zoom available for 1:1 Mental Performance Consultation Sessions for Student-Athletes.

Team & Small Group Sessions

Mental training programs through team and small group sessions, tailored to each team’s unique needs and goals, are systematically developed & provided. In collaboration with an assigned mental performance consultant, coaches choose the mental performance topics to include in their team’s personalized multi-session program. This service can be delivered to the entire team, subgroups (based on position, class year, etc.), team captains, or pairs.

Coach Consultation Sessions

Coach Consultation Sessions are available for coaches who aim to optimize their own mental performance and leadership (communicating effectively, decision-making, performing under pressure, etc.). Coaches also have the opportunity to engage in a train-the-trainer model that focuses on how the coaching staff can incorporate and integrate mental performance within their team. Coach consultation can be combined with team sessions to ensure that the content and tools from the session are purposefully applied between sessions. 

Full Practice Mental Performance Services for Teams 

This is an in-person service available for Cal teams. It is designed as a flexible service that can include a combination of the following: observation of practice, team sessions, student-athlete one-on-ones, small group sessions based on position or pairs (if applicable), coach consultation, and mental skills training integrated within drills. Teams that have opted into the caseload model receive this service through their assigned mental performance consultant. 

Calm x Cal

Student-athletes and coaches can access an annual premium subscription to the Calm app. The Calm App is an industry-leading app to support sleep, meditation, mental fitness, lowering anxiety and stress, and building resiliency. Email CameronInstitute@berkeley.edu if you are a student-athlete or staff member and want to sign up for your free premium account.

Cameron Institute-Wide Services

New Student-Athlete Orientation

New Student-Athlete Orientation provides a warm welcome and foundational support for newly enrolled student-athletes transitioning to Cal. Incoming student-athletes will learn about all available resources, connect with their peers, and meet the staff that provides services uniquely built for the student-athlete experience.

1:1 Student-Athlete Development Advising & Office Hours

This single-session format advises student-athletes and coaches on the Cameron Institute services tied to The California Way based on areas to enhance (strengths) and develop further (growth). The open office hours option also allows student-athletes and coaches to receive insight and guidance on topics of their choice. 

Recruiting

Potential student-athletes and families receive an informational overview and content related to The Cameron Institute for Student-Athlete Development on an individual, group, team-by-team, or multi-team basis.

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Cal Athletics Student-Athlete Led Organizations

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) supports Cal Athletics’ strategic plan priority of creating an exceptional Student-Athlete Experience and serves as a conduit to Cal Athletics leadership, the ACC, and the broader campus and our East Bay communities. Email: cameroninstitute@berkeley.edu | IG: @cal_saac

Cal Student Athlete Led Organizations (SALOs) are by and for Cal Student-Athletes - designed to build community and belonging, and provide opportunities for positive social, educational, and community growth and impact for members and the larger Cal and Bay Area community around specific areas of interest and identity. 

Explore Student-Athlete Led Organizations!