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.

