SHRM Interest Meeting

College Colors Day

The Academic and Career Coaching team celebrated National College Colors Day by sporting UNC Charlotte gear and attire from their Alma Maters. Undergraduate schools attended ranged from small to large, in state and out of state, and private and public institutions. Degrees were awarded in many areas including business, communications, and psychology. Schools represented included: Ohio State University, Knox College, UNC Charlotte, Illinois State University, UNC Chapel Hill, Roanoke College, University of South Carolina, and SUNY Brockport. All Academic and Career Coaches have graduate degrees too! Those schools included: North Carolina State University, Illinois State University, Clemson University, University of South Carolina, and University of Rochester. Learn more about the ACC team by visiting our webpage. We hope you enjoy opening weekend for college football. Go Niners!

Welcome Peer Advisors!

Careers: A "Major" Decision?

Five Things To Do This Month If You Want a Job Someday

September is here and many employers start looking for future summer interns and full-time hires this month. Are you ready? Read on for five things you can do this month to be ready for future employment opportunities, whether you’re graduating in three months or three (or more) years.

Image: Pixabay

1. Update your resume.

It’s time to dust off your resume and make sure it has all your most recent accomplishments and activities included. Use a clear, organized format that showcases evidence of your skills and achievements. For more guidance, review these tips. You can have your resume reviewed at the University Career Center during drop-in hours. 

Photo: Andrew Neel 

2. Research industries and employers that interest you.

Assess the kind of industry and organizations that would be a good fit for your skills and interests. Some ways to gather this kind of information:

• Explore industry guides and “day-in-the-life” testimonials from business professionals on the Vault website (log-in with your NinerNet credentials)
• Use the Belk College Alumni Advisor Network to schedule online, virtual “meetings” with alumni and other professionals. You can ask what their day-to-day work is like and advice they have for you as you begin your career or make a career change.
• Talk to students who have had internships to see what their experience was like.
• Ask faculty about their work experiences in the industry or alumni they know who are employed in the field.
• Speak with your academic and career coach or an advisor in University Career Center about career paths and industries that might be a good fit for you.  
• Read employer reviews on sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor

3. Get your professional attire ready.

For most business fields, you’ll need a suit for interviews. You don’t need to spend a lot of money - check out low-cost retailers, thrift shops, or secondhand stores if you’re on a budget. Think about obtaining this kind of attire ahead of time so you’re not stressing the night before an interview. Learn more about professional dress.

4. Create or update your Hire-A-Niner profile.

Hire-A-Niner (HAN) not only has tons of internship, part-time and full-time job postings, but also access to other career tools and online resources. Update your profile and upload your resume so employers can see your information and you have full access to postings and resources. If you're creating an account for the first time your resume will need to be reviewed and approved by University Career Center staff before your account is ready to use. This can take a few days so plan accordingly.

5. Prepare for and attend the campus career fair on September 21.

The campus-wide fall career fair will be held Friday, September 21 from 10:00-2:00 in the Student Activity Center. A list of participating employers can be found in Hire-A-Niner. Create a short, targeted list of employers that interest you most. Look at the internships and jobs they have posted on HAN. Brainstorm how your skills might be a good fit for those positions and figure out how you’re going to introduce yourself. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask employers. If you want more career fair preparation tips, attend the Niblock Student Center Lunch and Learn, "Career Fair Ready" on September 18! (Register here.)

After attending, be sure to follow-up with employers and apply for any jobs or internships on Hire-A-Niner that interest you.

While September may seem a little early to be thinking about an internship for spring or summer or a full-time job after May graduation, many large employers start their hiring processes this month. Start early for maximum employment and networking opportunities!

Spring Break Study Abroad- Open Now!

Study Abroad over Spring Break

Study Abroad on a faculty-led trip over spring break 2019 and receive course credit! 

The Belk College of Business is offering two study abroad trips:

 Economics of Poverty in Panama and Colombia 

 Global Marketing Practicum in Panama and Colobmia

General Information

• Credit will be granted for coursework and travel and will be issued by UNC Charlotte

• The international experience supplements the applicable UNC Charlotte course and students must complete all requirements for both the class and the travel component

• All participants will receive UNC Charlotte academic credit for this program – it is not possible to audit the course(s) or participate in a non-credit seeking capacity 

• This program only offers credit for the course(s) described in the next section – participants may receive credit for these pre-approved offerings only

• Students will receive A-F grades for all courses taken abroad

• All grades from abroad will count towards students' cumulative GPA

• Students must be present for all required program activities, including any class sessions held before or after the travel component

Please review additional academic eligibility requirements, information about grades, registration, and academic policies on the Academic Credit page of the OEA website.

Which UNC Charlotte Course Credit Will I Receive?

Global Marketing Practicum in Panama and Colobmia.

MKTG 3000: Topics in Marketing: Global Marketing Practicum: Panama and Colombia (3 credit hours)

            This course will emphasize culture and its impact on marketing, global logistics, and changing distribution formats, sustainability, and global competition. Elements of the marketing environment, including culture, social, legal, political, geography, and technology, will all be explored. The benefit of the travel component is to be able to address these topics in two countries, Panama and Colombia, both in geographical proximity to the United States. These are emerging markets, trading partners, and vacation destinations for those seeking an ecologically low impact experience all which make them important to North Carolina.

Pre-Requisites: Completion of MKTG 3110 with a C or above, or permission of department if MKTG 3110 not taken yet

Economics of Poverty in Panama and Colombia 

ECON 3090: Topics in Economics: Economics of Poverty: Panama/Colombia Edition (3 credit hours)

            This course will explore the economic conditions in Panama and Colombia, including topics such as income distribution, poverty rates, GDP, growth, and primary industries, as well as government poverty alleviation programs and their effect on poverty and economic conditions in Central and South America. Students will be introduced to the structural and systemic issues and related government programs prior to travel. Coursework will include readings, a daily journal reflecting the student's personal observations and experiences on planned site visits, participation and a final paper on a topic chosen from the experience abroad. Please note: Students that have already received credit for Economics of Poverty: The Morocco/Portugal Edition ARE eligible to register for this course for economics elective credit. 

Pre-Requisites: None

  For application deadlines, eligibility and costs, please visit: Faculty-led programs.

Paid Business Internships and Scholarships for Students Interested in the Floral Industry

The American Floral Endowment offers paid internships in a variety of locations for students in:

• Management
• Information technology
• Marketing/communications
• Accounting
• Sales
• Logistics
• Graphic design
• Human Resources
• Analytics
• And more!

Learn more at endowment.org/biz. Application deadline is October 1!

STUDYING ABROAD AS A HOMEBODY: HALF WAY THROUGH MY TRIP

STUDYING ABROAD AS A HOMEBODY:

Half way through my trip | By Baylee 

I am about half-way through my faculty-led, study abroad trip to Italy and wanted to share a brief update! 

I have already learned a tremendous amount both academically and culturally.

Academically, I have learned about International Economics and International Management. In International Economics we have learned about the effects associated with tariffs, international trade relations, comparative advantage, and risk management strategies. In International Management we have learned a lot about culture and how that plays a role in managing an organization. We have talked about how an organization should handle sending expatriates to countries and what compensation should be provided for those employees. We discussed the challenges that arise with being an expatriate such as issues with reentry, the family not feeling at home, and all the emotions that come from leaving behind family, friends, and everything one is accustomed to. We also discussed how working with people from different cultures can lead to communication issues if one is not aware of the others customs. For instance, we discussed how Americans are more likely to be time sensitive and task focused whereas other cultures focus a lot more on relationships then both time and the task. This class has also made me aware when I come across cultural differences in Italy. For example, at restaurants they are not as as focused on getting food to you fast as they are making sure the food they are giving you is quality. Also, you have to ask for your check whenever you want it since they are not going to rush you to leave. 

In my first two weeks, I have already had several fun experiences in Italy.

The most exciting would probably be the free weekend where a group of us went to Cinque Terre. We stayed in the quaint town of Manarola but had the opportunity to spend a good amount of time in Monterosso as well. We also were able to go on a boat tour where we got to see every town from the Mediterranean Sea and swim in this little area with a waterfall. It was absolutely beautiful and something I would definitely recommend for anyone to go and visit.

I have had to get accustomed to a few things. 

The most challenging thing would probably be the transportation. It really is not that difficult at all but it is something you always have to be mindful of. Instead of being able to jump in your car and drive back home you have to walk everywhere or take a train or bus. Fortunately, the train system is super easy, I am just not used to having to rely on the train to get from place to place. After I have taken it a few times I think it is similar to the light rail, but you can also go longer distances. In most places you just hop on and off but you can also go farther distances which would require you to be on the train for a couple hours. Overall, it is pretty easy, it is just different and another thing to get accustomed to.

I would encourage anybody studying abroad to try and stay in a small town if they can.

For this program I am with a group of UNC Charlotte students and a group of University of Tennessee - Knoxville students. Together we go to class, do day trips, and have tours of various museums and cathedrals. Due to the schedule of our program and our location in a bigger city, I have not had the chance to meet a lot of locals. We do go to the same breakfast place every morning so we know the owner there, but because of the morning rush we have not had a chance to get to know her well. When we went to the small town of Manarola for a weekend we were able to meet a few people. So, I think if we were there for a longer period of time it would have been very easy to build more relationships with the locals. I would encourage anybody studying abroad to try and stay in a small town if they can. It is super easy to get anywhere else to do things and it allows you to really dive into the culture and meet people from the actual town.

Women in Business Retreat

Women in Business Retreat 

"This was a very positive group experience and helped boost my confidence. I used skills to work as a team and realized how much I love teamwork."

"There are strong, talented, capable women around me. We all have different strengths, weaknesses, and goals. These [women] are able to help me and I am able to help them. If we work together, we can all move forward."

Students learn how to take risks by participating in a Venture course. As a team, these female business students know they can tackle any problem them comes their way as they figure out how to get to the other side as a unit.

Taking a leap is a little easier with peers supporting you and cheering you on as you learn more about your path in business with fellow students.

Around the conference table students learn and discuss key issues they might face as they prepare to enter the business marketplace.

What's vocal fry? What's uptalk? Find out during retreat discussions as you increase your awareness on these issues.

Network and meet your Belk College peers for a weekend away in Greenville, SC. 

For more information and to apply visit: https://womeninbusiness.uncc.edu/fall-2018-women-business-retreat

Take a break and POP into the Niblock Student Center!

Starting to feel the stress of the semester already? Stop by the Niblock Student Center the first Thursday of every month for some snacks and a little relaxation during one of our Belk Breaks!

Join us on Thursday, September 6 from 11:00am-Noon in the Niblock Student Center (305 Friday) for our first Belk Break of the fall semester. POP in for a popcorn, cake pops, professional development, and a break from your classes. Bring your UNC Charlotte ID. Hope to see you there!

Get involved at UNC Charlotte and in the Belk College by joining a student organization!

By: Sarah Haley (sarah.haley@uncc.edu)

Get involved at UNC Charlotte and in the Belk College by joining a student organization! The first step with many organizations in the Belk College is attending an interest meeting:

National Association of Black Accountants

August 27 at 6:00pm | Student Union 261

Alpha Kappa Psi Co-Ed Business Fraternity

August 28 at 5:30pm | Cone 111

September 4 at 5:30pm | Cone 111

September 6 at 5:30pm | Student Union 340B

September 9 at 10:30am | Cone 113

*View full recruiting schedule at: https://www.charlotteakpsi.com/

IntersectionsUNCC

August 28 at 6:30pm | Student Union 340E

Beta Alpha Psi

August 28 at 7:00pm | Student Union 200

*Must be second-semester sophomore with (intended) major in ACCT, FINN, or INFO

Enactus

August 29 at 5:00pm | Location TBD

Future Leaders of Accounting

September 4 at 6:30pm | Student Union 340C
**NOTE: STU 340C is the new, updated location.

Society for Human Resource Management

September 5 at 4:00pm | Location TBD

Gamma Iota Sigma

September 6 at 5:00pm | Friday 383

Other Belk College Student Organizations where you can get involved:

• American Marketing Association
• Associational of Latino Professionals for America
•  Financial Management Association
• Sports Analytics Club

Face to Face: AvidXChange

By: Sarah Haley (sarah.haley@uncc.edu)

AvidXChange will be in the Niblock Student Center on September 11 to meet one-on-one with students. This is a great opportunity for you to meet with an employer and ask just about anything!

Do you want feedback on your resume? Do you want to learn more about financial technology? Are you interested in practicing common interview questions? Maybe you just want to network and meet someone new? You can do all of these things (and more) by signing up for a 10-minute appointment with AvidXChange!

Reserve your appointment time today!
*Please include your name and UNC Charlotte email address in your sign-up.

All appointments will be held in the Niblock Student Center Conference Room (FRI 305). Please make sure you arrive at least 5 minutes early for your appointment. Business casual attire is strongly encouraged. 

For additional events and professional development opportunities, please check out the upcoming events calendar.

SC Aerospace Conference & Expo

 SC Aerospace Pitch Competition This event, held at our annual aerospace conference in October, will allow students to pitch their ideas “shark tank style” in front of a panel of judges to claim the title as 2018 Aerospace Innovation. The finalist will also claim over $3,000 in seed funding to launch ideas and mentoring from the USC I-Corps program. Students can apply online to enter the competition by September 14^th. 

In past conference events, we received the support of the Southeast top research professionals with industry and academic relationships with Boeing, IBM, KUKA Robotics, Lockheed Martin and NASA just to name a few, to highlight the conference. This year our keynote speaker Former NASA Administrator, General Charles Bolden will open Day 1 of the conference.

Lastly, we hope to make this event a competitive landscape as we have students from regional programs participating from University of South Carolina, Clemson University, NC State, University of Alabama and more. 

The University Will be Closed for Labor Day

Fall 2018 Important Dates and Reminders

DATE	EVENTS
August 20, 2018	First day of evening classes starting at 5:00 pm
August 20, 2018	New Student Convocation 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
August 21, 2018	First Day of daytime classes starting at 8:00 AM
August 25, 2018	Saturday Classes begin
August 27, 2018	2nd Cancellation for non-payment Payment Info
August 27, 2018	Last day to change Grade Type (P/NC or Audit)
August 27, 2018	Last day to register, add, drop with no grade via the web*
August 27, 2018	Last day to submit grade replacement request* Policy Info
August 31, 2018	Census Date for Fall Enrollment
September 1, 2018	No Saturday Classes
September 3, 2018	Labor Day - No Classes
September 3, 2018	Labor Day - University Closed
September 17, 2018	Deadline for all students to apply for December 2018 graduation *
October 5, 2018	Unsatisfactory grades due by noon
October 8, 2018	Spring 2019 Schedule of Classes available on the Web
October 8, 2018 to October 9, 2018	Student Recess - no classes
October 8, 2018	Unsatisfactory Grade emails sent to students
October 22, 2018	Last day to withdraw from course (s); grade subject to Withdrawal Policy*
November 5, 2018	Registration for Spring 2019 begins * Registration Info
November 21, 2018 to November 24, 2018	Thanksgiving Break - No classes
November 22, 2018 to November 23, 2018	Thanksgiving Break - University Closed
December 1, 2018	Optional Reschedule Date for Possible Class Interruptions
December 5, 2018	Last day of classes
December 6, 2018	Reading Day
December 7, 2018 to December 8, 2018	Final Examinations
December 8, 2018	Final Examinations for Saturday Classes
December 10, 2018 to December 13, 2018	Final Examinations Continued
December 14, 2018	Commencement Arts + Architecture, Business, and Health and Human Services @ 1pm
December 14, 2018	Summer 2019 Schedule of Classes available on the Web
December 17, 2018	Grades due by noon
December 19, 2018	Fall 2018 Probation/Suspension communication sent to students
December 24, 2018 to December 28, 2018	Winter Break - University Closed
December 31, 2018	Winter Break - University Closed

*Online process available through My UNC Charlotte

Reminders:

• How to Submit a Grade Replacement Request
• How to use the Waitlist Feature
• Academic Support Resources

Digging Into Business

All Belk College of Business students are invited to drop in at the Niblock Student Center (Friday 302) on Wednesday, August 22nd for the Digging for Business event. Academic and Career Coaches will be available for questions about classes and scheduling and the Professional Development team will be giving career advice. You'll hear from both teams as well as current students about how to make the most of your business experience. Snacks and Drinks Included!

2:15 - 3:15 (Freshman Focused announcements at 2:30pm/3pm)

3:45 - 4:45 (Transfer Focused announcements at 

4:00pm/4:30pm)

*Feel free to come at any time even if you aren't a freshman or transfer student!!

Women in Business: Open House

Welcome to Day 1: Student Advice to Incoming Students

Welcome to Day 1, the start of a new school year with the Belk College of Business. To start the year off strong, we asked current business students to share their best tips for new students:

• Join a business focused organization on campus as soon as possible! This is the best way to get advice on what business classes to take and get tutoring on business classes that you find difficult. (Arjun Nag, Pre-Business, Class of 2021) 

• Don't be afraid to get to know your professor. They have your best interest in mind. Also, get to know upperclassmen as they have great advice and can become great friends, too. 

• Go and get lost on campus. That way you will learn your campus and won't get lost when it actually matters! (Ryan Croat, Pre-Accounting, Class of 2021)

• Your next year will be decorated with a plethora of amazing experiences! However, in the flurry of excitement that is freshman year, don't forget why you came in the first place: to better yourself through education. So no matter what amazing experiences you have this year, make sure you make your priority what it should be: education... Don't waste time that could be better spend in these next four amazing years. Good luck! (Joe Mulligan, Pre-Business, Class of 2021)

• Always look for internship opportunities and speak to other students about their internship experiences to get a better understanding of what you may want to do as a career. (Dalton Pearman, Pre-Accounting, Class of 2020)

• Go out of your way to familiarize yourself with those around you. Make connections with people and go the extra mile to get to know those around you in class, your professors, and your Academic and Career Coach. These are the people who can help you grow as a student, but you must first establish these connections and foster them. (Makayla Craig, Pre-Accounting, Class of 2021)

• Don't be afraid to branch out and get involved in as many opportunities as possible. It will pay off in the long run. (Chase Thompson, Pre-Business, Class of 2021)

• The more you get acclimated with your university, college, organizations, peers and professors, the more you get out of your experience. If you are committed to being successful, professors are looking for students like you, but they won't just hold up a sign.

• Stay on top of your work. Find a system that works for you and stick to it. You will thank yourself later when you're watching your peers frantically trying to finish a quiz just before the deadline. (Shanna Rizzo, Pre-Business, Class of 2021) 

• Don't be afraid to meet people and make friends. One of the best things a freshman can do in their first week of college, especially if they do not know anyone, is to make friends with one or two people (maybe other BCOB students!). If you have one, two, or more people going through it 'with' you, it will make the college experience much easier in the beginning. (Chris Jorgensen, Finance, Class of 2020)

Thanks to all who submitted their best advice. Along with your peers, the Niblock Student Center is here to support you. Stop by for an appointment or attend a workshop to learn additional tips and tricks. We all wish you the best start to the fall semester!

BB&T Emerging Leaders Certification Program

Internship for Credit: Reactions from Belk College of Business Students

What happens when you participate in an internship for academic credit? Internships can be an opportunity to gain real world experience, expand your network, and determine your personal goals. In the internship for credit course, you can do all of that with the support of an instructor to offer advice and guide the documentation and purpose of your intern journey.

In the words of real BCOB internship for credit students, you can…

Gain valuable experience:

“The internship experience exceeded my expectations. A lot of my friends ended up serving coffee, and this is one thing my employer said would not happen. I was given the experience and I loved it.”

Figure out what is next:

 “I am now certain this could be a long-term career option for me.”

“I know that I chose the correct career path.”

“I realized after this internship that I do not want to work for a big corporation.”

“I was confused at first [about my next step] but the networking here allowed me to find an answer.”

Learn workplace norms:

“It helped shape my view of how corporate culture operates and what to expect if I continue to pursue a career in this field.”

Get experience that complements classroom learning:

“The most significant thing I learned from this experience is that you cannot get this type of field experience in a business class.”

Here is more information about eligibility for internship for credit in the Belk College of Business.

To learn more about the internship for credit process, please join an internship for credit information session:

·         August 13 5pm- 6pm

·         September 26 12:15pm- 1:15pm

If you have questions, please email Meagan Glasco (Management, International Business, Marketing, Business Analytics, MIS, & Operations & Supply Chain Management) at mglasco@uncc.eduor Sarah Haley (Economics, Finance, Accounting, & to receive Honors credit) at sarah.haley@uncc.edu.