From resume workshops to alumni mixers to job fairs to even
“pizookie” parties, the Undergraduate Business Society
offers a wide variety of activities designed to give students a
glimpse of the business world.
Since UBS appeared on campus more than 20 years ago, the club
has worked to increase its membership, build its reputation and
establish relationships with corporate sponsors. Currently, these
include insurance company GEICO Direct and financial adviser
Merrill Lynch.
Many business-oriented Bruins flock to the organization as a way
to jump-start their careers. Its events are meant to help members
grow both corporately and individually.
The society’s committee heads are required to put on at
least one large event ““ designed to develop their leadership,
analytical and teamwork skills ““ every year.
“It is important for students to learn the aspects of
event planning and on-the-spot problem-solving from first-hand
experience,” said fourth-year business economics student and
UBS President Laura Cote.
“Many times at interviews, I could use my UBS experiences
to demonstrate my talents and familiarity with the professional
sphere,” she added.
Unlike many of her peers, who worry about their seemingly dismal
chances of finding post-college employment, Cote has a job waiting
for her at the Ernst and Young accounting firm when she graduates
in June.
Cote said she got acquainted with an Ernst and Young recruit
while she was planning last year’s job fair, which involved
2,500 students and over 40 firms.
The UBS Corporate Development Committee hosted a career fair
Tuesday for students looking outside of consulting or investment
banking. Insurance agencies, retail firms and media companies were
among the organizations represented, including Farmer’s
Insurance, Rite-Aid, Robinson’s May and AMC Corporation.
“The Undergraduate Business Society has a reputation for
having a lot of outstanding students,” said Erryn Brazill,
manager of college recruiting and human resources for the retail
store Robinsons-May.
Alison Fast, director of special projects at the media group
Creative Visions, was at the career fair because she needs an
employee to handle fiscal business matters.
“We need someone who can sit down with spreadsheets,
someone with business savvy,” Fast said.
Though UBS members are predominately business economics
students, the group is sprinkled with students whose studies range
from philosophy to pre-med.
“Business is related to every profession,” said
second-year undeclared student Dina Farshidi.
Though she intends to study medicine, Farshidi joined the
approximately 1,650 other students who belong to the club.
“UBS is a great way for me to branch out from my South
Campus roots to try something new,” she said.
Farshidi believes the organization’s only shortcoming is
that only a small portion of its members actively participates.
“We don’t have general meetings, and we don’t
have much of a sense of unity,” she said.
“For someone who is not on a committee or in a leadership
position, there is very little to do other than to attend
events,” she added.
Still, with events like last year’s Business Etiquette
Dinner, hosted by a former Miss America pageant participant,
students continue to seek out the UBS table on Bruin Walk to sign
up and join in.
“How much time you put into UBS determines what you get
out of it,” said third-year economics/international area
studies student Kathleen Chu.
“There are many levels at which students can get
involved,” she said.
Blue membership is free and entitles students to e-mail
notifications about the group’s events and a subscription to
its quarterly newsletter.
For $15 a year, a student can become a gold member and join UBS
committees, participate in the Alumni Mentorship Program and
include a resume in fall and winter brochures which are sent to
corporate sponsors.
Since joining UBS her freshman year, Chu said she has seen the
club continue to grow and develop.
Because it is a student-run organization, members’
suggestions are what drive club events, she said, adding “we
are always improving, always looking to get more members
involved.”