Close that Computer and Listen Up!

by Echo Angelicchio

Flash back to my sophomore year in the 11:15am section of A201. I’m sitting in one of the back rows, switching back and forth between browsing for a deal on K-cups on Amazon and catching up on homework for a different class. I’m sure there was some Facebook checking in there as well. I definitely had my course packet out, but it sat unopened under my laptop. I didn’t once raise my hand, and my professor probably wouldn’t recognize me in a crowd. I didn’t meet anyone new. I later spent hours on end in the library teaching myself accounting to master all the material before exams, often pulling all-nighters.

Flash forward to the first semester of my senior year, in my 9:30am Venture Growth Management class. We are not allowed to use laptops, or any technology at all while the professor calls out students at random to discuss material from the readings for that day’s lesson. I come to class prepared, I participate and engage openly, and I share ideas and opinions with classmates. I don’t pull all-night study sessions for exams, because I’m always caught up with the material. If you don’t do the readings, you are sure to feel incompetent and a little left out of the conversation come class time.

What I have learned since that A201 lecture is the value that shutting your laptop can bring to your classroom experience. Unfortunately, the class I just described is nowhere near the norm in Kelley. For the greater part of my academic career, I sat through classes, even very small lectures, where it felt like the professor was talking to the backs of laptops rather than students.

I know sometimes it’s hard to remember – I mean this in all seriousness, as I’m guilty of this, too – but we are here primarily to get an education. At the Kelley School of Business, we have the opportunity to get an incredible one. Most students would be shocked at the impressive and varied careers that our professors have had, and by how much we can actually learn from them beyond their course material. However, most of us also never take the time to get to know them beyond doing what's necessary to get a good grade. 

I can say from personal experience that the opportunities and accomplishments I’m most proud of have happened because of the relationships I’ve forged with some of my professors. You may not think that it's “cool” to befriend your teacher, but I can tell you that it’s one of the most genuinely cool things you can do.

Aside from the benefits you can gain from actively making an effort with your professors, you owe it to them and to yourself, and to whoever is paying your tuition, to engage in class. You aren’t ever going to look back and say you wish you had spent more time on Facebook in college. However, you might look back and regret not taking advantage of the knowledge and resources you have at your fingertips during these four short years.

Four Ways KSB Sets You Up For Success (That Have Nothing to Do with Money)

By Lauren Daas

This summer I had one of the best experiences of my life interning for Salesforce Marketing Cloud in Indianapolis. As a rising senior, I had been eyeing the cloud computing company for three years already and was ecstatic to have the opportunity to work for such a fantastic company. As I reflect on my internship now, I realize I owe much of my experience to the resources at the Kelley School of Business. While I’m not discrediting my own hard work and enthusiasm, I recognize that Kelley gave me all the tools I needed to get to this position; I just had to pick them up and use them. I know the launchpad Kelley has provided me will continue benefitting me for years to come. To explain my sentiment, I’ve identified four things Kelley gives students to set us up for future success – and, maybe surprisingly, they have nothing to do with money.

1. The ability to find your passion

Over 1,200 companies recruited Kelley students last school year which in my opinion is an astounding number. To put that into perspective, just over 1,300 Kelley seniors are registered with the Undergraduate Career Services Office (UCSO) website; this means there’s nearly a 1:1 ratio between employers and those seeking full-time employment. It also means that Kelley seniors have a wealth of companies to explore when seeking full-time employment. While some students enter Kelley with their dream companies etched in their brains, many are still finding their passions. The 1,200 companies that recruit at Kelley not only represent thousands of job openings, but thousands of opportunities to launch meaningful careers. The UCSO and other Kelley organizations do an excellent job at planning information sessions, meet and greets, and other recruiting events that allow students to learn about the different industries, companies, and positions available. And these opportunities begin freshman year. It’s how I found that my passion lies in connecting businesses with cutting edge technology and how some of my peers found their passion lies in helping individuals best manage their finances. There’s something for everyone.

2. The chance to build your life where you want to

The 1,200 companies that recruit at Kelley also represent hundreds of cities where Kelley students can start their careers or spend their summers. This makes it easy to prioritize where you want to live as much as where you want to work. And it makes it incredibly easy to find a job in the location you have your heart set on if that matters to you more than your work. Most companies have openings at more than one location, often on each coast and in the Midwest, making it even more possible for students to find both a company and location that are great fits for them. It is such a perk to be able to land where we want to right now. 

3. The peers you’ll be working with

Despite the large number of companies recruiting at Kelley, our entry-level job market is still incredibly competitive, both among Kelley students and other university students. However, the stress of the recruiting process becomes one of the biggest privileges of working for these top companies. At Salesforce this summer, I worked with the brightest group of people I’ve ever been surrounded by. Our shared work experience forged a strong bond between us, but our similarities as eager, passionate, intelligent young professionals is what is keeping us close after our internships ended. These relationships keep me on my toes, challenge me as a person and a professional, and made me excited to go to work every day. Kelley will keep me competing with the best long after graduation, and I’m so glad.

4. The security offered

Okay, this one has a little to do with money. But the security Kelley employers offer goes far beyond a competitive salary. The companies that recruit at Kelley are not only top of the line in their industries in regards to their products and services but their benefit programs as well. Speaking from personal experience, this summer I witnessed how Salesforce’s health benefits, 401k match, paid volunteer time off (VTO), and flexible work environment positively impacted the lives of my coworkers. Additionally, PwC, the second top full-time employer of Kelley graduates, offers one of the most innovative working mothers programs in the nation.

As a student surrounded by the resources of a public university and partially supported by my parents, I often take for granted things like health insurance, dental insurance, child care, and the like. It’s somewhat daunting to imagine that in a few short months it will be my responsibility to acquire these resources for myself. I am truly put at peace knowing that my Kelley degree has the power to help me get a job with a company who values me enough to provide these resources to me.

I know my valuable Kelley experience will continue adding value to the rest of my life far past graduation. If you’re interested in further statistics about Kelley recruiting, here is the 2015-2016 Annual Report from the Undergraduate Career Services Office (which mostly has to do with money).

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