Find Berkeley EECS Alumni at OpenAI
UC Berkeley EECS has one of the largest CS alumni networks in the world. Berkeley graduates are deeply embedded in Silicon Valley and have founded many of the region's most successful companies.
Find Berkeley EECS Alumni at OpenAIWhy Berkeley EECS Alumni Are Your Best Path Into OpenAI
Berkeley EECS alumni are known for Silicon Valley engineering, open-source leadership, and startups. OpenAI, with 3,000+ employees, has a significant concentration of Berkeley EECS graduates — and alumni networks at elite programs are among the most effective tools for getting in the door.
A referral from a fellow Berkeley EECS alum at OpenAI is not just a form submission. It is a personal endorsement from someone who cleared the same bar you did. OpenAI employees take referrals seriously, and a shared school creates an immediate conversation starter.
OpenAI Referral Program Facts
Berkeley EECS alumni are actively working at OpenAI across engineering, product, strategy, and operations. The challenge is identifying who to reach out to, finding the right hook, and making the ask in a way that gets a response.
How to Get a OpenAI Referral Through Your Berkeley EECS Network: Step by Step
- Find Berkeley EECS alumni at OpenAI: Use FindWarmIntros to surface Berkeley EECS graduates who currently work at OpenAI. You will see their roles, seniority, and LinkedIn profiles — so you can prioritize the most relevant connections.
- Open with your shared school connection: Your opening message should lead with the Berkeley EECS connection. "I noticed you went to UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science — I graduated in [year] and am exploring opportunities at OpenAI" outperforms any generic opener.
- Ask for a 15-minute conversation: Do not ask for a referral in the first message. Ask to learn about their experience at OpenAI and the team. Your alumni connection creates goodwill — use it to open a conversation, not to shortcut the relationship.
- Come prepared with specific questions: Know what role you are targeting and why. Show that you have done research on OpenAI. A prepared candidate is easy to refer — an unprepared one is a risk for the referrer.
- Follow up with the direct ask: After a good conversation, send a follow-up with your resume and the specific role or job ID you are targeting. Ask clearly: "Would you be open to submitting a referral for me?" Make it easy for them to say yes.
OpenAI-Specific Tips
OpenAI is small — almost everyone knows everyone
OpenAI has a few thousand employees. Getting an introduction to someone who knows you is far more effective than applying cold. The interview process starts with a warm conversation, not an application review.
Show genuine alignment with the mission
OpenAI screens heavily for mission alignment on top of technical capability. Your outreach and interviews should demonstrate that you have thought seriously about AI safety and responsible AI development.