A new Career Services program and a student-led club are providing new opportunities for students to expand their practical business knowledge and learn real-world skills.
The Hillsdale College Business Fundamentals Program will allow students to participate based on nomination from their professors. One facet of the program is a two-week course offered in Boston this summer called the Fullbridge Program. Fullbridge focuses on teaching its participants real-world business skills.
“Fullbridge is like a boot-camp-like business for building business fundamentals,” Executive Director of Career Services Michael Murray said.
The other facet of the Business Fundamentals Program is an on-campus aspect. In Fall 2015, students will hear from alumni, go on trips to companies, and visit top business schools.
Another opportunity is a club that senior Alex Mexicotte spearheaded. This semester the currently un-named club hosted its first events. They consist of lectures, seminars, and other events. The group will bring in speakers and have events where students can learn hands-on skills for careers after Hillsdale.
“What we want to try and do with this group is to bring in and expose students to practical knowledge in the business world that you aren’t necessarily going to be getting in the classroom environment,” Mexicotte said. “So you have a lot of academics and that kind of learning in the classroom where you’re not going to learn so much about going out with co-workers after work or how to address your boss in certain situations. These are the types of things we think are important for people in almost any career, any career path.”
Mexicotte stressed the fact that the events are not just for business majors and are open to everyone.
“We’re not just trying to target business people, people in the business environment,” Mexicotte said. “This is targeted to people in any industry, any job. We want to make this clear that this is not just something for business people. You’re going to be working with people in any industry, any job. This is going to be relevant to you no matter what career path you go into.”
Freshman Morgan Brownfield said she was interested in joining the group after attending their first event.
“I really like the idea of it,” Brownfield said. “There’s so much, especially with a liberal arts college, that just is pursuing things for their own sake — which is good but there’s also ‘OK, now I have to go out into the real world and get a job,’ and this deals with things like that and prepares you for the business world.”
