Business students had a chance to put their networking skills to practice when Dr. Jeffrey Weaver, lecturer in the Merrick School of Business, brought together his class with alumni and members of the business community.
Each fall, University of Baltimore students in MGMT 330: Personal and Professional Skills for Business participate in Network330 by focusing on business etiquette and professional behavior, workplace communication techniques, written business techniques, and more. This year, student members of Beta Alpha Psi also participated.
The special guests who helped guide our students during the event included Joan Worthington, B.S. ’84, MBA ‘91 and University of Baltimore Foundation board member; Michael Papa, MBA; Renata Reis, B.S. ’18, MBA ‘24; Jeff Lawson, M.S. ‘08; Amanda Kugler, MBA; and La-Toya Gomez, MBA, a UBalt career manager.
Two of Weaver’s students shared about what the lessons in personal and professional development meant to them.
New Perspectives on Interviewing
The following is written by Makayla Bess, a B.S. in Business Administration student specializing in marketing
This course has helped me to present myself in a more professional manner and gave me the ability to display a new level of confidence in a more corporate setting. After working for myself for an extended period of time, my understanding of the expectations required in the more corporate workforce was rather limited. I got to learn more about the different questions I would be asked, and how I was expected to present myself. There were also things that I thought to be true of the corporate interview process that were not. For example, I learned various strengths and weaknesses to talk about during an interview that will help me be a good candidate for any job that I may apply for in the future.
Not only was I able to expand my way of thinking, but I also gained access to different resources that helped me perfect my resume and craft cover letters specific to possible job opportunities. I had used ChatGPT in the past, but it was for more trivial things like grocery lists and skincare routines. This class showed me that AI could be used for professional development, and the assignment that required us to use ChatGPT to create a cover letter was very helpful. I was also able to realize that I could upload my resume alone to be tailored to fit the job description of the open position I found online.
This assignment allowed me to realize that I had more work experience than I gave myself credit for, and there were connections that I had forgotten about that I was able to make that I hadn’t thought about before taking this course. Being required to find a specific contact allowed me to reflect on the positive experiences I had with my previous managers and how I was able to maintain professional relationships over the years.
Growth Through Peers, Experiences
The following is written by Ray’Neeka C. Brown, a B.S. in Business Administration student with a concentration in accounting
From the very beginning of this course, I realized it was more than just another academic task; it turned into a chance for real self-reflection and personal growth. Each lesson pushed me to think more deeply about my identity as a student and my future career. The combination of personal development, networking preparation, and reflective assignments helped me develop skills that go beyond the classroom and into real-life situations.
I’ve gone through a variety of growth, challenges and self-discovery. The subjects and tasks prompted me to critically evaluate my personal and professional growth, while also considering how I handle teamwork and communication. Listening to my classmates’ insights and going through course materials taught me important lessons about effective networking and how to present myself confidently in professional environments.
The most significant lesson I took from this course was the value of purposeful networking and self-awareness. I’ve discovered that enhancing personal and professional skills isn’t solely about academic knowledge, it’s also about knowing how to manage real-world interactions, adjusting to various work settings and being receptive to feedback.
Before I started this course, I really wished I had known how soft skills and self-awareness play a role in achieving success in my career. Through various discussions and assignments, I came to understand that skills like time management, teamwork, and emotional intelligence are just as important as having technical knowledge. Every project, including the Implicit Association Test (IAT), allowed me to link what I learned in theory to real-life situations, and now I feel way more ready to use these insights in my future classes and my career.