Back in Business
By Pat Donahue
When I am meeting with exploratory students to discuss their careers, students will often say they want a career in business.
What exactly does that mean?
Business careers are available in all industries and not just with Fortune 500 or for-profit companies. Government agencies and non-profits offer business careers. Yes, managers are called administrators and profits are called surplus, but many of the skill sets needed for business success are transferrable among industries and sectors of the economy.
Although IU students often associate business careers with the Kelley School of Business and their majors and minors, career opportunities in business are also associated with majors that are not housed in Kelley, so it’s important University Division students learn about these majors and minors as well.
Some, but not all, of these majors include Economics; Advertising; Public Relations; Healthcare Management and Policy; Sports Marketing & Management; Apparel Merchandising & Interior Design; Informatics; Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management; and SPEA majors focused on Management, Finance, and Human Resources.
Some of these majors are more “generalist”, focusing on specific skills sets and knowledge applied to multiple industries, such as accounting or advertising. Other majors are more “specialist”, focusing on a particular industry, such as healthcare or sports. Many majors are a hybrid both.
In order to educate students on these many opportunities, the Career Development Center is coordinating the program Back in Business: Majors and Minors for Students interested in Business Careers from 6PM-8PM on Tuesday, October 18 in the IMU Frangipani Room.
The first part of Back in Business will be a panel discussion with representatives who will answer the following questions:
- What majors/minors/certificates does your School or Department offer that have a business focus?
- What types of business careers do students in those majors/minors/certificates pursue? Please give the names of some employers who have hired students in your major for internships and full-time positions.
- What Admissions requirements do you have? If students are interested in your majors/minors/certificates, who would they contact in your School for more information?
- What introductory courses in your School/Department will be helpful for exploratory students who are interested in business careers?
- Does your School have student clubs or organizations that are affiliated with professional associations or provide students networking opportunities in business?
The second part of Back in Business is an information fair format in which each School will be provided a table. The following Schools will be represented at Back in Business: College of Arts & Sciences; Kelley School of Business; School of Public Health; School of Informatics & Computing; and the School of Public & Environmental Affairs. Admissions officers, academic advisors, and career advisors will be available to answer questions about majors, minors, and certificates in those Schools.
Here is just a sample of majors that will be represented:
- Healthcare Management & Policy
- Economics
- Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management
- Finance
- Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design
- Game Design
- Public and Nonprofit Management
- Computer Science
- Management
- Advertising
- Human Resource Management
- Informatics
- Sports Marketing & Management
- Accounting
- Media Management
- Public Relations
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Take care of your business and attend Back in Business: Majors and Minors for Students interested in Business Careers from 6PM-8PM on Tuesday, October 18 in the IMU Frangipani Room.