Building Professionalism in Students Julie Browning, MBA, CPA, CMA Thursday, August 21

Why Professionalism? Students need to learn how to be professional Students need to learn how to be professional Students are more marketable if they are professional Students are more marketable if they are professional They will get jobs They will get jobs Employers will turn to CBU in the future if they like the students they hired in the past Employers will turn to CBU in the future if they like the students they hired in the past

Professionalism Student related matters Student related matters Faculty related matters Faculty related matters

Student Related How to get a job How to get a job How to network How to network Benefits of clubs and activities Benefits of clubs and activities How to turn in professional assignments How to turn in professional assignments

How to Get a Job Internet search Internet search Recruiters Recruiters Job fairs Job fairs Meet the Firms Meet the Firms Career Night Career Night

How to Network Know how to network, not just what it means Know how to network, not just what it means Need to learn and practice before they need the skill for an event or interview Need to learn and practice before they need the skill for an event or interview

Benefits of Clubs and Activities Meet new people, new friends Meet new people, new friends Meet people with the same Meet people with the same Academic interests Academic interests Social interests Social interests

Professional Assignments Provide appropriate guidelines and expectations about assignments Provide appropriate guidelines and expectations about assignments APA/MLA format APA/MLA format Rubrics Rubrics Previous student examples Previous student examples Letter to students – upper division example Letter to students – upper division example

Faculty Related Importance of career advising Importance of career advising Identifying interested students Identifying interested students Importance of storytelling Importance of storytelling Guest speakers Guest speakers Real world, not just theory Real world, not just theory How to “Get ahead” How to “Get ahead” Rule enforcement Rule enforcement Professional organizations Professional organizations Dress/attire Dress/attire

Importance of Career Advising Formal Formal Provide guidance for students based on their interests Provide guidance for students based on their interests Names of contacts and recruiters Names of contacts and recruiters Assignments Assignments Informal Informal Talk about profession in the classroom Talk about profession in the classroom

Identifying Interested Students Look at homework or test grades Look at homework or test grades Build a rapport with the students Build a rapport with the students

Importance of Storytelling Tell students about your experiences in the field Tell students about your experiences in the field Bring the profession alive Bring the profession alive

Guest Speakers Give students a different perspective Give students a different perspective Bring in a variety of guest speakers (if the syllabus permits) Bring in a variety of guest speakers (if the syllabus permits)

Real World, Not Just Theory Real jobs are different than the theory taught in class Real jobs are different than the theory taught in class Tell them that! Tell them that!

How to “Get Ahead” Each profession is different Each profession is different In the business world, there are some common things students should know In the business world, there are some common things students should know 40 hour work week 40 hour work week 8 to 5 8 to 5 Be nice to… Be nice to… Prove yourself Prove yourself

Rule Enforcement There must be consequences in courses because there are consequences in the job market There must be consequences in courses because there are consequences in the job market Late assignments Late assignments Low quality assignments Low quality assignments Cheating Cheating Absences Absences Missing a test Missing a test

Professional Organizations Be an example to your students Be an example to your students Encourage your students to attend and learn how to network Encourage your students to attend and learn how to network

Dress/Attire Be an example to your students Be an example to your students Dress the way you would be expected to dress in industry… or better! Dress the way you would be expected to dress in industry… or better! In business, always dress one level above your current position In business, always dress one level above your current position Why? Why?

Summary Student related matters Student related matters Faculty related matters Faculty related matters

Student Related How to get a job How to get a job How to network How to network Benefits of clubs and activities Benefits of clubs and activities How to turn in professional assignments How to turn in professional assignments

Faculty Related Importance of career advising Importance of career advising Identifying interested students Identifying interested students Importance of storytelling Importance of storytelling Guest speakers Guest speakers Real world, not just theory Real world, not just theory How to “Get ahead” How to “Get ahead” Rule enforcement Rule enforcement Professional organizations Professional organizations Dress/attire Dress/attire

Conclusion Wisdom from Bill Gates Wisdom from Bill Gates “11 things students did not and will not learn in school” “11 things students did not and will not learn in school”

11 Things Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it! Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it! Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself. Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

11 Things (cont) Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both. Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss. Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

11 Things (cont) Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity. Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them. Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

11 Things (cont) Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room. Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

11 Things (cont) Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life. Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

11 Things (cont) Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time. Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time. Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

11 Things (cont) Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Questions? Questions? Questions? Comments? Comments? Remarks? Remarks?