In the midtown Manhattan headquarters of Andersen, the global consulting company, making professional connections is a routine occurrence. But, to the more than 80 UB business students who met in Andersen's headquarters last Thursday, a single day of networking may determine the next major course their lives take.
Tuesday marked the School of Management Career Resource Center's third annual "Network New York" conference, which introduces business students to New York City-based alumni working as executives for industry leaders such as Kraft foods, IBM, NBC, and Pepsi-Cola.
"I liked that they showed you what you're going to need," said Mikhail Chapnik, a first-year MBA student who attended the event. "They told you exactly what a company will be looking for, which is a distinct advantage.
Mike Paolini, Associate Director of the School of Management and one of the organizers of Network New York, called the event "informative, interactive and fun."
"Reaching out to influential alumni is a good way to create jobs in a tight market," said Paolini. "It was a great success."
Students were also given a primer to living in New York City, including tips on apartment hunting, riding the subway and after-dark safety, because the of how greatly the fast-paced and often turbulent lifestyle of New York City differs from that of upstate.
Anthony Primerano, a senior marketing major, choose to attend the resume critiquing session and forego the second Life in NYC conference to continue his interaction with the associate marketing manager of Pepsi-Cola, Inc.
"Since my focus is in marketing, I wanted to continue talking to the marketing guys," said Primerano. "I was more interested in speaking with the alumni than the other stuff."
The insight he acquired "was straight from the horse's mouth - a good preview of what to expect," said Primerano.
After the formal sessions concluded, students continued chatting with alumni late into the evening.
"A friend of mine said that one of the executives was so impressed with him that he created an internship specifically for this guy," said Chapnik. "That's great, and it's really the point of this thing, to make connections."
