During the first two weeks in May, over 60 Haworth College of Business students will spend time job shadowing professionals at over 100 worksites as part of a new Business Externship Program.
From left are Geralyn Heystek, academic/career advisor; Michelle Hoisington, recruiting supervisor, Enterprise; Patti Lis, human resources manager, Enterprise; and Jessie Wagner, career advisor.
Developed to assist freshmen and sophomore students build on their education, the new program matches business students with professionals, based upon the students desired occupation. The students will observe the business environment, tasks and responsibilities of the professionals for a one to five day experiential opportunity.
Program Coordinators Geralyn Heystek and Jessie Wagner, both career advisors with the Career Center, Haworth College of Business, identified that some pre-business students have trouble engaging in their education until they discover an academic major and career path that is a good fit for them. The Business Externship Program facilitates students’ career exploration by purposefully partnering them with a career role model.
“We researched collegiate job shadow programs of other business schools and designed the program with WMU students and the employers who hire WMU students in mind,” says Wagner.
According to Wagner, “Our pilot program in the summer 2008, along with the advisory board that included both students and employers, provided extremely helpful input in developing program learning objectives. We structured the program to provide a developmental experience for both the students and the professionals.”
The program is made possible primarily through award grants from Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Eaton Corporation. Other employers participating in the program include Amway, Edward Jones Investments, Yeo and Yeo, Hormel Foods, Kellogg’s, Whirlpool and Wal-Mart.
For further information on participating, visit the Business Externship Program online or contact Jessie Wagner at 269-387-2711.
