Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business is dedicated to the career readiness and professional development that result in 94 percent of business students employed or in graduate school within three months of graduation. Students participate in innovative curricular and co-curricular programs, working with career advisors, alumni and faculty members throughout their college experience to develop their professional acumen.
The Zhang Career Center and the Student Professional Readiness Series work in tandem to offer programs that help students develop career readiness skills and fulfill requirements for graduation. Programs include the following:
- Business etiquette dinners
- Career development course
- Speaker series
- Case competitions
- Work ethic workshop
- Leadership development
- Training in personal and professional branding
- Our nationally renowned Business Externship Program
The Zhang Career Center assists students with career exploration, major exploration, and the internship or job search process. In addition to providing career development events, online resources and printed materials, career advisors are available by appointment or during drop-in hours. Contact the Zhang Career Center for more information.
With the help of the SPuRS program manager, you will fulfill the professional readiness requirement that is part of your business degree. Contact the SPuRS program for more information.
BUSINESS EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Designed for pre-business students, an externship is an unpaid, collegiate-level job shadow experience. Each student applicant is matched with an organization and assigned to a mentor (often an alum) to learn about a field of interest. The program offers students an early opportunity to learn about various positions and industries as part of their major and career exploration, generally during the first two years.
Application information for the business externship program is available from the Zhang Career Center.
HANDSHAKE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
Handshake is WMU’s employment website. All students should set up an account and publish a resume. Resumes made public by the student are searchable by employers.
Students use their accounts to view internship and full-time job opportunities posted by employers and sign up for on-campus interviews. For more information, visit the Zhang Career Center. To request assistance with a free Handshake account, students should contact:
Jen Palmatier
Employer Relations Specialist
(269) 387-2729
INTERNSHIPS
An internship experience is frequently a key factor in obtaining a full-time position after graduation. Internships offer critical experience, and they also allow students to discover the industry, type of positions, and the company culture they would like to work for upon graduation. More than 60 percent of employers make full-time job offers to students who successfully completed an internship experience with them.
Working with faculty and career center advisors, participating in business student organizations and developing your professional readiness will all help you find your first internship. Create your Handshake account to get started with your search.
SOCIAL MEDIA
All students should consider using social media as a professional resource. Career and Student Employment Services offers a social media management guide.
- Students should follow the WMU Haworth College of Business on LinkedIn to network with students, alumni, employers and friends of both the college and the digital marketing and eCommerce program.
- The college offers annual LinkedIn photo sessions for all business students to get a professional headshot for use on LinkedIn or for other purposes.