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April 30, 2010

Grad Students Get Inside Look of HSN

While they were at one of the biggest online and television shopping hubs, The University of Tampa graduate students were not at HSN to buy hair removal cream or specialty hangers.

The students were on a behind-the-scenes tour of the St. Petersburg-based business, an event organized by UT’s Office of Career Services and UT-GOLD, the Graduate Organization of Leadership and Development.

“It’s a great way for the students to get to see the culture of an organization and picture themselves there,” said Mark Colvenbach, manager of employer development for Career Services.

Career Services has partnered with student groups, like UT-GOLD and Delta Sigma Pi, to offer these behind-the-scenes tours of places like Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo and the St. Pete Times Forum.

“In an indirect way, we’re trying to get students to think outside traditional career paths,” Colvenbach said.

David Mancuso ’10, who is earning an MBA and a master’s in accounting, said the business tours give students a better understanding about what to expect after graduation. Mancuso worked as a financial analyst for Citigroup and quickly learned that life in the workforce “wasn’t anything like the classroom.”

“These tours give you insight into the real world,” Mancuso said.

Noelle Williams graduated from UT in 2008 with her MBA. She joined the HSN tour because she is interested in working with HSN after she completes her current internship in another industry. Williams said all of the jobs and internships she has received have come with leads from UT’s Career Services.

“The first job I got was from a UT job fair,” Williams said. “I’m still connected with everyone at UT because I know it’s such a great resource.”

Colvenbach said they are hoping to offer more opportunities like the HSN tour in the fall. For information on the Office of Career Services, call (813) 253-6236 or e-mail hireut@ut.edu


Jamie Pilarczyk, Web Writer
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