ISB students learn the importance of networking

The ability to build a personal and professional network is a vitally important skill that is rarely taught in business schools.  According to a study by the Adler Group, 85 percent of all jobs are landed via networking. In addition, the contacts made through networking can be valuable connections later on in one’s career.

First year ISB student Bryan Matheson meets with Randy Heinonen, owner of Superior Claims Adjusters, during Tuesdays Networking Workshop.

A key ingredient of effective networking is good interpersonal communication skills. That was the focus of a networking workshop held by Finlandia’s International School of Business for first-year business students on Tuesday, November 1 in Mannerheim Central. The objective of the workshop was to give the students first-hand experience in meeting and communicating with business professionals. The students had to approach the local business professionals that were on hand and inquire about such things as their profession, their organization and the keys to being successful in business. The students also had to answer any questions in return.

“The networking workshop was an opportunity for students to build communications skills, while implementing a business concept from the class room into real life learning experience,” Assistant Professor Steve Nordstrom said. “We want our students to understand success in business depends on a person’s ability to communicate in a business environment.”

The goal is that this workshop will be a valuable introductory step in the education of the students in the International School of Business.  Along the way, they had a chance to build their own personal networks by meeting some local business people and professionals.

Learn more about Finlandia’s International School of Business by visiting finlandia.edu/business.