Career Preparation and Professional Development
The Âé¶¹´«Ã½AV College of Business is committed to helping students graduate career-ready. Our Professional Development program provides personalized guidance, career preparation, and networking opportunities from your first semester through graduation, helping you build the skills, confidence, and professional connections needed to succeed in today's business world.
Students have the opportunity to participate in hands-on career development experiences throughout their college journey, including resume reviews, mock interviews, career fairs, networking events, employer panels, etiquette dinners, guest speaker presentations, and industry-specific recruiting events. Professional Development is also integrated into the undergraduate curriculum, ensuring every business student has opportunities to strengthen leadership, communication, interviewing, and professional networking skills while exploring internships and career paths. Whether you're searching for your first internship, preparing for your first job interview, or building relationships with future employers, the College of Business provides the resources and support to help you achieve your career goals.
Career Path Internships
ISU is home to the unique Career Path Internship program allowing students to gain hands-on experience in their field of study.
Professional Development Events
The Professional Development program hosts numerous opportunities for networking, resume development and enhancing professional skills.
Student Organizations
Build your social, networking and real-world experiences in a College of Business club.
Professional Development Course
Professional Development is built into the undergraduate curriculum at the College of Business, helping to ensure students are career-ready beginning as freshmen.
Adaptability: Develop the ability to adjust one’s behavior, mindset, and approach in response to changing circumstances while maintaining productivity and effectiveness. Students stay solution-focused when conditions change, learn new tools or approaches, and apply what they learn across situations.
Sample behaviors:
- Adjust plans, roles, or methods when deadlines, expectations, or conditions change.
- Learn new systems, tools, or software even when the process is challenging.
- Stay calm and productive when projects, schedules, or responsibilities shift.
- Work effectively with different people, structures, and expectations.
- Reflect on feedback and apply lessons to future situations.
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Career & Self-Development: Advance your career through continuous learning, self-awareness, exploring opportunities, and networking. Students explore career options, connect interests and strengths to opportunities, and refine goals through feedback and authentic experiences.
Sample behaviors:
- Explore career paths and opportunities to inform decisions and direction.
- Identify strengths, interests, and areas for growth related to career goals.
- Set and revise goals based on experiences, feedback, and opportunities.
- Use internships, projects, mentoring, or other experiences to test interests.
- Build relationships and seek learning opportunities that support career growth.
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Communication: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with people inside and outside an organization. Students communicate effectively in academic and professional settings, listen actively, adapt communication for different audiences, and use feedback to improve collaboration and results.
Sample behaviors:
- Express ideas clearly in writing, speaking, and other forms of communication.
- Listen actively and build on others’ ideas to improve understanding and outcomes.
- Adapt communication for audience, context, and purpose.
- Ask questions to clarify expectations, information, or direction.
- Give and apply feedback to strengthen communication and collaboration.
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Critical Thinking: Identify and respond to needs based on an understanding of situational context and a logical analysis of relevant information. Students analyze information, evaluate evidence, design and refine solutions, and adjust their approach based on feedback and outcomes.
Sample behaviors:
- Analyze information from multiple sources to make informed decisions.
- Evaluate evidence before drawing conclusions or taking action.
- Design, test, and refine solutions using feedback and results.
- Recognize bias or limitations that may affect decisions or outcomes.
- Explain the reasoning behind decisions and adapt when new information emerges.
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Leadership: Recognize and use personal and team strengths to achieve shared goals and support positive outcomes. Students take initiative, influence and motivate others, make responsible decisions, and contribute to organizations and communities through their roles and actions.
Sample behaviors:
- Take initiative to improve situations and move projects forward.
- Motivate and support others through encouragement, trust, and accountability.
- Use feedback and diverse perspectives to guide decisions and direction.
- Plan, manage, and evaluate projects or tasks from start to finish.
- Model confidence, responsibility, and a positive attitude toward others.
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Professionalism: Exhibit strong work habits, adapt to different organizational environments, and act in the best interest of the workplace and community. Students manage responsibilities, time, and resources effectively, act with integrity, adapt to changing expectations, and use feedback to improve performance.
Sample behaviors:
- Meet deadlines, follow through on commitments, and manage responsibilities reliably.
- Act with integrity, respect, and ethical judgment in academic and professional settings.
- Adapt to different workplace cultures, expectations, and environments.
- Persevere through challenges while maintaining quality and focus.
- Seek feedback and use it to improve performance and results.
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Teamwork: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities. Students collaborate effectively, take responsibility for their role, consider different perspectives, and address conflict constructively to support shared outcomes.
Sample behaviors:
- Collaborate effectively with others to achieve shared goals.
- Take responsibility for individual roles and contributions.
- Consider and apply different perspectives to improve decisions and outcomes.
- Address conflict constructively to maintain progress and working relationships.
- Support team success by being dependable, respectful, and solution-focused.
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Technology: Understand and ethically leverage technologies to enhance efficiency, complete tasks, and accomplish goals. Students evaluate digital information, use appropriate tools to communicate and create, participate responsibly in digital spaces, and apply technology to solve problems and improve efficiency.
Sample behaviors:
- Evaluate digital information to complete tasks and inform decisions.
- Use appropriate digital tools to communicate, create, and achieve goals.
- Use technology responsibly and ethically in academic and professional settings.
- Apply digital tools to improve efficiency and solve problems.
- Select and adapt technology to support real-world tasks and outcomes.
Meet Our Team
The Professional Development program is led by a dedicated team of career development professionals who are committed to helping every College of Business student succeed. By building strong relationships with employers, alumni, and industry partners, the team is able to connect students with valuable networking opportunities, on-campus recruiting events, and internships that lead to meaningful careers.
Professional Development Newsletter
Stay up-to-date with upcoming College of Business professional development events, on-campus interviews, and job postings by signing up for the College of Business newsletter.





