“ I am now much more prepared for an interview, and more confident in handing out my resume, because I know it is complete.”
Business-Link Professions Program
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Students come to the School of Business to focus on their career aspirations and professional development. The School’s BusinessLink Professions Program centralizes all aspects of preparing students for that first job. Unveiled in the fall of 2010, Business-Link Professions Program tells students it’s dedicated to “giving you the edge.” Throughout their years on campus, students will seek internship and job opportunities. To assist them, B-LPP emphasizes three key needs:
Program updates • Graduate assistant hired in October 2010. • New marketing materials created to present to interested employers. • Campus speaker series include Fireside Chats, Visiting Entrepreneurs, Distinguished Alumni Lectures, Dean Zuckerman’s Living Leaders class.
• Developing skills and confidence. • Alumni and employer outreach increased. • Pilot program of workshops offered in spring 2011. • Website created in spring 2011. • 64% of students participate in first spring workshop. • 64% of May graduates respond to senior survey.
• Gaining insight on trends within various industries. • Making personal and professional connections with alumni and employers. Students attend workshops to gain the necessary skills. Visiting speakers offer their professional insights. A growing network of involved alumni and
benefit
Rebecca Kabel ’14
satisfied employers provides the business-world connections for students and alumni seeking new jobs. Led by the School’s professional development coordinator, Bethany Kilgore, B-LPP encourages students to attend workshops and networking events, on campus and off; email Kilgore with questions; make appointments to speak with her; or just walk into her office looking for advice. Through the alumni and corporate relations coordinator’s office in New York City, new connections were created in New York City, London, Paris, Milan and India for student internships. Students made more site trips in the New York City area. Network Nights forged new alumni relationships there and in Rochester, and Steve Gonick ’85 in Albany and Chris Didio ’84 in Syracuse hosted local networking events. Last fall faculty approved a new workshop program to build students’ contact with the professional development coordinator early in their collegiate career. After a pilot program of workshops
in the spring, a new four-year sequence of workshops starts in the 2011-12 academic year. A mentoring program pairs undergraduates with alumni in the student’s field of interest. Visit the B-LPP website, www.ithaca.edu/business/ professions, to see all the information available for students, employers, and alumni and friends. Speakers on campus Involvement of alumni and friends makes the School of Business experience last a lifetime. Many alumni and friends lend their expertise to the academic experience by appearing on campus in a range of settings. Here are some of the past year’s speakers and their topics: Visiting Entrepreneurship Series • Peter Krebs, co-founder and chief technology officer, Sefaira • Amanda Holt, CEO, shatterbox • Scott Wiener, owner, Scott's Pizza Tour • Dan Lane and Erin Moore, co-founders; Goodeye Video • Alex White, co-founder and CEO, Nextbigsound
Dean Mary Ellen Zuckerman’s Living Leaders class • Norm Jordan ’82, Gottesman Company • Arthur Catalenello ’90, Harvey Research • Scott Andrews ’95, Leading Edge, LLC • Steve Gonick ’85, Adirondack Funds • Debra Pollard Perez ’86, Fenimore Asset Management Attendance numbers In its first two semesters, B-LPP contacted 88 percent of the School’s undergraduates and 100 percent of its graduate students.
What’s next Starting in the fall, business students will attend a series of four sequential programs that address their four-year career and professional development preparedness. This sequence grew out of the pilot series of seminars and workshops offered in spring semester. The programs will introduce students to effective networking, professionalism, communication and essential skills for interview success. • Freshman program orientation will stress effective communication and networking basics, and how to dress for professional interview success.
Total contacts numbered 1,721 in the fall, 1,033 in the spring.
• Freshman/sophomore workshop will promote good work habits and essentials for effective interviewing.
Methods of contact include alumni presentations, appointments, classroom presentations, email messages, notes, networking events, Professions Programs, walkins, and other workshops.
• Sophomore/junior seminar will highlight School of Business internship courses, a student internship panel, and an individualized search plan.
“ This is valuable because internship and job recruiters are increasingly rating candidates from all aspects – resume, cover letter, first impression, online presence, and more.” Jason Rozet ’12
Total contacts numbered 1,721 in the fall and 1,033 in the spring.
• The junior/senior conference will cover the transition from college to a career or graduate school, financial decision making, and an alumni panel.
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