BUS 210 course prepares students for careers in business
By Jesse Drew Zeck, sophomore finance and business analytics major
At the University of Kansas School of Business, students are preparing for life after college in Career Management and Planning (BUS 210).
Led by Stephanie Schmitz, a career advisor senior at Business Career Services, BUS 210 helps students write persuasive resumes, network with peers and potential employers, and prepare for job interviews. The class, which is part of the school’s Professionalism Program series of courses, aims to help students land internships for the BUS 310 requirement and prepare for careers after college.
Building elite resumes
Upon entry into the class, the first assignment is resume-building. Students are taught how to write and revise their resumes. Jake Nolan, a sophomore finance major, said the resume-building in BUS 210 “was very helpful in revising my resume. I already had a resume made from high school, but [BUS] 210 helped me improve my resume threefold.”
Students in the class report a strict grading scale applied to submitted resumes; the resumes are heavily scrutinized so students taking the course have elite resumes.
My resume drastically improved in formatting and explanations. Taking the feedback given, I was able to enhance the reader’s comprehension. Concurrently with the resume assignment, BUS 210 introduces students to Business Career Services, where further resume help can be given.
Expanding your LinkedIn network
The most emphasized topic in BUS 210 is networking. Every week, students are required to use LinkedIn to network with peers, mentors, and potential employers. For many students, this is the first time they network using LinkedIn.
“[BUS] 210 helped me network using LinkedIn,” said Cooper Odell, a sophomore business administration major. “Coming from a small town in central Kansas, I had never really heard of LinkedIn. After taking 210, I gained many connections on LinkedIn.”
BUS 210 has allowed me to expand my network to almost 100 connections. BUS 210 taught me the usefulness of LinkedIn in connecting to employers and peers. Taking advice from BUS 210, I added minor areas of experience on my LinkedIn to improve my total experience. This allowed me to gain more connections with people whose experience is similar to mine.
Successfully preparing for job interviews
Another emphasized topic in the class is in interviewing skills. In BUS 210, students must schedule a mock interview with potential employers. Upon completion of the mock interview, students are given behavioral feedback regarding their performance in the interview. This helps students gain confidence in their interview abilities and gives them better potential at landing a job or internship.
I interviewed with Geico and received tips on how to improve my interviewing skills. One of the most important tips was to speak more slowly so that comprehension is maximized. Students are also required to interview two full-time working professionals who have jobs in their career of interest. This interview allows students to gain insight into their ideal job life and determine whether that career is the right fit for them.
BUS 210 adds value to students
Overall, BUS 210 helps students prepare for careers in a variety of ways, including resume-building, networking, and interviewing skills. Students are equipped with the tools to help them succeed after college.
Those interested in the benefits the class brings can meet with an advisor to discuss enrollment in BUS 210.
