Learning From Experience I

Discover the vibrant world of small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups that drive innovation, economic growth, and community vitality in the Greater Rochester region. In this course, students gain hands-on experience through short-term internships with local organizations or entrepreneurs, tackling real-world projects that showcase the many sides of running or working in a business. Through job shadowing and role rotations, students clarify their career interests and goals, all while building professional skills and insights that will set them apart.

Core Topics
  • Goal setting and deepening self-awareness
  • Professionalism & work-ready skills
  • Preparing for, conducting, and documenting observations
  • Networking and Informational Interviews
  • Intrapreneurship and identifying business challenges and proposing solutions
  • Self-Assessment & evaluation progress
  • Communication Styles and appreciating different viewpoints
  • Re-evaluating interests, values, strengths, and goals
  • Updating your resume and LinkedIn profiles

Learning Outcomes and Career Relevance

  • Demonstrate advanced reflective skills by critically analyzing professional experiences and integrating course concepts to inform future career decision-making.
  • Clarify professional goals by gaining industry exposure and evaluating alignment with personal interests, values, and strengths.
  • Demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors within a professional context.
  • Build a professional network of industry contacts and potential career mentors.
  • Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills by applying prior coursework to real-world professional settings.