Benjamin Barnett of Georgia Tech (Scheller) suggests spending more time on connections and less time stressing about the grades.
2) FOCUS ON CONNECTIONS
“The biggest advice I’d give to anyone looking to enter the business field is to spend more time making connections and less time trying to perfect yourself in the classroom. When I first came to college, I thought getting my dream job required having the highest grades. By my second year, I realized that was the wrong approach. The opportunities I’ve been given weren’t because I had the highest grades or was the smartest person in the room. At Georgia Tech, everyone’s intelligent and hardworking, but what I worked on perfecting was the art of networking and making connections. And not by talking to everyone I wanted to work for but by taking the time to get to know and learn something from someone.
“That’s the biggest advice I’d give to anyone looking to study business – make genuine connections and invest in those for as long as possible.” – Benjamin Barnett, Georgia Tech (Scheller)
Give yourself time to explore many options before deciding on your definite career path, says Bridget Momper of University of Dayton.
3) BE PATIENT WITH YOURSELF
“Most freshmen (including myself) want to come into college knowing exactly what they want to do. At the end of the day, you are going to grow a lot as a student, a professional, and overall individual throughout your time here at (University of Dayton). You will be exposed to new career paths you didn’t know about and meet inspiring people that will encourage your passions. Maintain a balance, work hard, ask questions, surround yourself with people who make you a better individual, and enjoy every second of it. I only wish I could go back in time and do it again!” – Bridget Momper, University of Dayton
4) GET INVOLVED
“Find ways to get involved in business opportunities! Employers looking to hire students for internships and full-time jobs often do not spend time looking at grades and transcripts. They are looking for candidates who have proven their commitment to clubs, organizations, on-campus jobs, and other involvements because these are the individuals who know how to make decisions and prioritize their time.
“Find something you are passionate about and immerse yourself into it deeply. In my opinion, it is better to be involved in one thing and work your way to a leadership position than to be involved in many things at a surface level. When you are the one making decisions and brainstorming new ideas, that is where the learning really happens. The lessons that you learn in these experiences are far greater than the ones learned in any classroom – and that is why I support the idea of experiential learning so fully.” – Carolyn Haney, University of Dayton
‘Take time and make an effort to genuinely understand the ins and outs of the business majors that intrigue you’ says Dustin Han, Rutgers Business School-New Brunswick.
5) DON’T BE TOO QUICK TO PICK A MAJOR
“Don’t feel as if you have to commit to a particular field of work the moment you step into the university. Take time and make an effort to genuinely understand the ins and outs of the business majors that intrigue you.
“If you happen to regret the choice of a major, don’t hesitate to switch! It is better to be behind on your academic progress but invest time in a major you are passionate about instead of committing to a major you don’t enjoy. Reach out to your university’s office of career management or even current students or alumni to receive direct feedback on the value of the major and what the job prospects of the major entail.” – Dustin Han, Rutgers Business School (New Brunswick)
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