The Nevada Sagebrush

A summer’s worth of student organizing ended this week with the College of Business Administration’s Business Week. The event’s goal was to bring students in touch with employers and teach them the  skills and knowledge that will help them after graduation, organizers said.

Jane Bessette, director of Career Connections, said that she sees a lot more students in her office asking for help with interviewing skills, résumé writing and contacts. Bessette oversaw the planning of Business Week along with a delegation of students, who worked through the summer to put together the event.

Kenneth Hardin, a business major, was a first-time attendee. He said that this year was different for him because he is looking for a job after graduation and was hoping to gain information and contacts. He is also concerned about the economy and noticed that many of his graduating classmates attended as well, probably for the same reason.

“A lot of people are worried and are trying to get their foot in the door. Once you’re out of school you’re pretty much on your own,” Hardin said.

This worry resonated with other students who attended.

Patricia Knight, a graduate student in business, was encouraged by a professor to come. She said that she was impressed by the speakers and hoped to gain some connections that could help her when she graduates.

Kevin Davis, a business major, attended several events and said that he learned about employment opportunities with Amazon.com and Microsoft.

Several events were in the form of luncheons and meetings off campus. This was part of an effort to bring alums and corporate sponsors in to talk to students and make them aware of opportunities outside of campus, Bassette said.

One of the keynote speakers was Douglas D. Dirks, CEO of Employers, a company that provides insurance to small businesses. Dirks spoke about the significance of politics in today’s business environment and encouraged students to view politics as just another facet of business, like accounting, marketing and technology.

“This is a great time to get involved in the political process,” Dirks said. “It is another tool to put in your tool box.”

Hardin attended the event and said that he was inspired to look at the tumultuous economy differently.

“Sometimes a true crisis can be an opportunity,” Hardin said.

Ase Carlson can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.

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