Heifer International Global Passport Program

I'm so excited to learn that I have been accepted to participate this summer as a Walton MBA Student in the Heifer International Global Passport Experience where I will travel to Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas August 13-16, 2012. The Walton College sponsors funding for 15 students each summer, which covers the full program cost of $155 per student. From the Career Development Center's website, "the Global Passport Program is a half educational and half service-oriented 3 night experience where students will be exposed to a variety of activities and educational experiences, including educational workshops and team-building exercises that explore the causes and effects of hunger and poverty throughout the world. The program also consists of overnight stays in Heifer’s Global Village, providing participants a better understanding of the complications of hunger and poverty by living the lessons first-hand. Participants will sleep outdoors throughout the program and participate in various outdoor activities."

When Heather Sprandel came from the Career Development Center during orientation earlier this semester and mentioned the Global Passport Program, I immediately knew that I wanted to participate so I began working on my application right away! I'm ecstatic to learn that I have been selected, and I can't wait for August! This is going to be a really exciting summer for me! :o)

You can read more about the global village and Heifer International at their website here: http://www.heifer.org/visit/global-passport as well as the Walton College Program here: http://waltoncollege.uark.edu/career/passport.asp.

- Tammy :o)

Mock Interviews

One of the fantastic opportunities offered by the Career Development Center here in the Walton College is participation in Mock Interviews. Real employers volunteer to come to campus to help students improve their interviewing skills by conducting real face-to-face interviews. These experiences are incredibly valuable to identify strengths and weaknesses applicants have before they get to the actual interview for a job they really want. Practicing interviewing also makes the process much more familiar and helps you to be able to relax. This semester, I have been able to participate in mock interviews with Nielsen, AT&T via Skype, Saatchi & Saatchi X, and Consolidated Electrical Distributors. The Skype interview was a new experience, and one that I am definitely glad I practiced with now since it is becoming more and more popular with employers. In fact, I will probably try to practice with this format once or twice more.

As for feedback, generally, my overall feedback was very positive from all of the employers. Some of the tips that I received were:

- More relaxed and conversational
- More specific about career goals
- Let more personality show
- Strong resume; improve by
- Great experience and skills
- Practice more behavioral questions with the STAR method

While I have interviewed before, I learned a lot about my interviewing style, and by the time I got to the last one, I certainly began to feel more comfortable with the process. This program is just one of the many assets students have access to in the Walton College through the CDC, and I encourage everyone to take full advantage and get in some practice!

For more tips on interviewing and to watch for more mock interview opportunities, visit the Career Development Center's website here: http://waltoncollege.uark.edu/career/interviewing.asp.

- Tammy :o)

Study Abroad

I'm going to China! I recently found out that I have been awarded a scholarship from the Center for Retailing Excellence to make my study abroad program in China for 2 weeks this summer possible. Studying abroad is one of the amazing opportunities that students in the Walton MBA program have access to - Brazil, China, Greece, India, Japan, or anywhere else you can find a program and want to go! The GSB website has more details here to learn about the different programs: http://gsb.uark.edu/stab.asp. 

Specifically, the China program is designed for "MBA and MMBA students [to] investigate the economic, business, political, and cultural environment and trends in China and are introduced to the key issues in the Chinese/American economic and business relationship." During our two weeks abroad, we will have the chance to visit Wal-Mart, China and other multinational companies such as Li and Fung, Kantar Retail, Unilever and various organizations such as the US Embassy. In addition to the corporate visits and learning, we will also get to tour cultural sites such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Hangzhou Gardens, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square and Mao's Memorial Hall. See our tentative and basic itinerary below:

Tentative Itinerary

May 20: Departure - USA

May 21: Arrival - Hong Kong

May 22: Shenzhen - Business Visits

May 23: Hong Kong - Business Meetings

May 24: Hong Kong - Free Day

May 25: Travel - Beijing

May 26-27: Beijing - Sightseeing

May 28: Beijing - Business Meetings

May 29: Travel - Shanghai

May 30: Shanghai - Cultural Visits

May 31-June 01: Shanghai - Business Visits

June 02: Shanghai - Free Day

June 03: Return - USA

I'm really excited about this opportunity to learn about a new culture and experience firsthand the realities of international business as it continues to become more and more prevalent in today's global economy. We have had a few chances to meet the other students traveling to China, and although I didn't previously know any of the students in my program, I have already formed fast friendships. I am particularly excited to be able to travel with Lily who happens to be the only other girl on the trip and also a student from China. I know that she will be a great travel companion and an invaluable resource to help me with the language and culture. I'll be sure to post my finalized itinerary and about the trip while I'm abroad and once I return. It's going to be incredible! :o)

- Tammy :o)

Graduate Assistantships

As a full-time MBA student, everyone in the entering class is considered for external graduate assistantships and summer internships with local companies. The Walton Career Development Center helps critique each student's resume and prepare it to be included in the packet sent to the companies willing to hire interns before the January semester even begins. Firms offering internships and assistantships this year included Kellogg, Kraft, Dannon, Tracfone, Walmart, Hershey's, Reckitt, Henkel, Land O'Lakes, and many more. Upon beginning the program shortly after orientation, the firms come to campus and conduct interviews of the students they select from the resume pool. Within a few weeks of beginning the program, many students have offers and begin their assistantships. Those offered graduate assistantships are granted a scholarship and monthly stipend. During the school year, external graduate assistants work 15 hours/week and then summer hours change depending upon the length of the internship. Each position is different depending upon the expectations of the company. 

I was fortunate to be offered in January an external graduate assistantship with Kellogg Company working on the Walmart Cereal Team as as Sales Analyst Intern. My tasks include creating Retail Link reports and pulling data, developing access and excel trackers, interpreting sales data and reports, and working on other various projects as assigned by the Cereal Team. I have also been recently assigned a new project to work with the Walmart sustainability initiative and develop a scorecard to measure Kellogg's performance. I've already learned so much from my short time at Kellogg, and I owe so much of that learning to my mentor, John Miller, a second year MBA student from Walton who was just recently hired on full-time at Kellogg. John has been such a valuable resource, and I am so grateful that he has the patience and has taken the time to help me find my role in this assistantship. I still have a lot left to learn, and I am really excited to see where my new sustainability project will take me, but my internship has already lent me so very much. It has been an incredible opportunity, and I look forward to learning even more during my time through next May!

You can read more about assistantships and internships on the GSB website here: http://gsb.uark.edu/ga.asp.

- Tammy :o)