BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

Portland State University is located in the heart of the business community in downtown Portland, Oregon. We take full advantage of this unique position with a wide range of corporate outreach activities ranging from classroom appearances by local executives to internship programs, real-world student consulting projects, and a host of career recruiting activities. We also benefit from a large and enthusiastic Alumni Association in the Portland area, which provides ongoing opportunities for networking and a mentorship resource for current students. Our close ties to the community are well known: the PSU School of Business has been described in the Princeton Review as being “extremely well-connected to the Portland Business Community.”

Portland and the metro region are home to a thriving business community. Nike is a true Oregon original, and the Nike World Headquarters, located in the Portland area, provides many jobs for the local community. The success of Nike has drawn in other major players in the footwear & recreation apparel field, including adidas, Nau and Columbia Sportswear. Also of great importance to the local economy is our wealth of major players in the high-tech industry. Intel is the largest company to have a large presence in the Portland area, followed by Tektronix, Xerox, Hewlett-Packard, and a long list of small independent companies. The computer industry presence is so heavy here that our region has been coined “Silicon Forest,” forming a geographic link between the technology centers in the San Francisco and Seattle areas. Many graduates from PSU’s business programs find work with these and other local employers.

 

As a student in one of the three PSU Graduate Business Programs, you will have frequent opportunities to interact with Portland-area business professionals. From academic encounters, to career planning events, to job fairs and recruiting activities, local professionals of all types will provide valuable guidance as you prepare for your business career. In addition, PSU Alumni events provide even more opportunities to meet and learn from local business professionals.

 

 

Guest Speakers on Campus

Throughout the 2006–2007 academic year, the School of Business had more than 100 executives on campus as guest speakers, sharing their expertise and knowledge with our students. These executives cover a wide range of Northwest industries, from the Presidents of small companies including Insight Schools and Hanna Andersson to the highest executives at Legacy Health Systems, Intel, and other multinational corporations.

 

 

 

Executives in Residence

Each term the PSU School of Business invites select executives to the School to participate in an Executive in Residence program. During their time spent on campus, they partake in a variety of activities, including giving a class lecture and meeting with faculty and students. Some recent participating executives include: Mark Donegan, Chairman and CEO, Precision Castparts; Roger Hinshaw, President, Bank of America; Erin Hubert, VP/GM, Entercom-Portland.

 

 

 

Recruiting and Outreach

Employers interested in hiring graduates of PSU business programs, and in promoting their companies, have a variety of recruiting and outreach options. We host information sessions and recruiting activities of all types, from job fairs to offering recruiter booths and tables in well-traveled campus locations. 

 




 

 

Career Events

We offer several events planned specifically around furthering your career search while in the program, including:

 

 

• Skill-building seminars such as resume seminars and networking groups
• Employer-hosted information sessions where you can learn more about companies recruiting PSU graduate business students, and the types of positions that are open
• On-campus recruiting and interviewing, particularly by the larger organizations
• Networking events that include alumni and other professionals from local businesses

 

 

 

Job Posting

One of the easiest ways to take advantage of PSU business connections is to check the PSU Job Postings Board on the web. The School of Business Administration offers a free job posting service to employers seeking to hire graduate business students. We post various new job and internship opportunities each term. These positions are often not available to the community at large and these organizations are targeting PSU graduate business students as ideal candidates for the job opportunity.

 

 

 

Internship Program

The Internship Program matches student educational goals with local business needs by providing students with practical business experience that reinforces their academic training. Many students find that connections made during their internships lead to full-time employment upon completion of the program. Students may receive academic credit for their internships and typically receive financial compensation as well.

 

 

 

PSU Student Business Projects

The PSU Student Business Projects Program offers area businesses and organizations the opportunity to “hire” PSU students who are in the final stages of their graduate-level degree program. In small teams of three or four, students apply their classroom learning to real business problems. The sponsoring companies are considered serious clients and receive many of the benefits of professional consultation, without incurring significant costs.

 

Throughout the program’s history, companies and organizations of all sizes and in numerous industries have sponsored a project. These projects represent the full range of activities, from developing a business plan or a marketing strategy, to performing financial analysis or feasibility studies for a new product.

 

 

PSU/SBA Mentor Program

The PSU/SBA Mentor Program is designed to provide an opportunity for students to gain clarity on their career goals and develop their own business network through a mentor relationship with a business professional. Mentors serve multiple roles for a student - friend, coach, colleague, and teacher. With the guidance and support of a mentor, students are given opportunities to observe the work environment, learn about the range of career opportunities available within a profession or company, and develop confidence in interacting with business professionals.

 

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