Career Trek A Personalized Curriculum Based Approach of Career Services for MBA Candidates Ryan D. Butt –Lourdes University 2014 IACBE Annual Conference - April 9, 2014

Lourdes University

Current B-School News “ “97.8 percent of Wharton graduates this year received job offers within three months of graduation, with median base salaries rising to $125,000, up from $120,000 the year before.” “Director of MBA Career Management at UT Austin’s McCombs, Stacey Rudnick reports, “We saw a 6-year high for MBA students employed 3 months after graduation, with 96% of our students with job offers…. (43%) took their full- time positions coming out of their summer internships.” Salaries at McCombs were up across the board, with the average salary over $106,000, and 71% of graduating students receiving a signing bonus, worth on average $24,700.” Forbes -10/9/13

University Career Services

MBA691 – Professional Immersion In order to realize mastery of the program’s expected level of knowledge, functions and dispositions, students will be required to become immersed within real-life situational opportunities with an end product being a comprehensive project benefiting both the student and the host participant. MBA Candidates Elect One of Four Project Areas 1.Consulting 2.Sales 3.Internship 4.Entrepreneurial

Career Trek Overview 1.Provide Career-Oriented book to all incoming MBA candidates 2.1 st Behavioral Analysis Interview – no preparation experience 3.1 st Personal Assessment via Gifts Compass Inventory 4.2 nd Personal Assessment via Discover Your Passion 5.Develop the Candidates “Brand” 6.2 nd Behavioral Analysis Interview 7.Networking Events & Opportunities 8.Career Services at Lourdes is for life Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” -Jack Welch

The Interviews - 1 st Interview Conducted within 6-12 weeks upon entering the MBA program 1.Provide current resume 2.Basic/Common Interview Questions 3.Filmed with written critique/review provided to student 2 nd Interview Conducted after 50% of program credits are successfully completed 1.MBA Candidate provides prospective job posting before interview 2.Specific questions on both the company and the industry as a whole 3.Filmed with written critique/review provided to student

Personal Assessments Gifts Compass™ Inventory (GCI™) 1.Based upon the work of Carl Jung 2.Advisor provides personalized review with each MBA Candidate in order to fully understand their identified best gifts 3.Provides preferred “Compass Heading” a.NW: Reflecting b.NE: Formulating c.SE: Producing d.SW: Associating Discover Your Passion 1.Assists MBA Candidates to understand where their true passion lies 2.Integrate the “best gifts” from the GCI with the individual’s dream of life and their favorite interests to discover one’s passion

Develop the Candidate’s Brand 1. Introduction to Optimal Resume 2. Introduction to College Central 3. On-Going Series of workshops a. On and Off Campus b. Webinars 4. Business cards to candidates

Networking 1.MBA Sponsored Networking Events 2.Business & Leadership Advisory Council 3.Provide calendar on the region’s networking events

Setting the Ground Rules For Both the Student & Sponsor Manage Expectations

The Students’ Benefits Real-World Work Experience – with meaningful outcomes and consequences Ability to apply theoretical frameworks to client’s project Opportunity to challenge assumptions – with academic feedback and support along the way Gives students confidence that they can succeed within the business world

Performance Metrics 1 st Graduating Class (2012) – 80% Employed within 1 year of graduation – remaining 20% - pursued advanced additional education and/or licensures Current part-time students Promotion within current employment Securing new career opportunities Full-Time Students (12) Fortune 500 Companies Professional Sports Healthcare Settings

Steps to avoid an Un-professional Immersion Require mandatory initial classes Include university Career Services’ events & Career Trek’s components in the grade Encourage sufficient time to explore possible long-term career objectives Set the expectation that MBA Candidates should be involved with their immersion site for at least 6 months