Finlandia business graduates experiencing job market success

Kirsten Berg, an accounting major from Hancock, is looking forward to completing her BBA this fall semester. Although she is still busy finishing her courses, she has already found employment with the Michigan Tech Employees Federal Credit Union in Houghton. Kirsten has accepted a job as an accountant and will be following a career path to transition into the Manager of Accounting and Finance for the MTEFCU.

Soon-to-be graduate Kirsten Berg has already found employment as an accountant.

Kirsten is typical of many recent graduates of the International School of Business. Most have been able to land a position, if not before graduation, then soon afterwards.  Employers of recent years’ graduates include Texas instruments, Ponsse North America, The Tampa Bay Lightning (read more about that here), The Green Bay Gamblers hockey club,  American State Bank & Trust and Guardian Pest Control to name a few. Many graduates are also utilizing their degrees in professional and managerial positions in our own region with firms such as U.P. Health System, GS Engineering, ThermoAnalytics and Sherwin Williams.

According to Mary Jane Hatton, Assistant Professor of Management, “a Finlandia business student who studies diligently and gets good grades has enormous opportunities. For example, the student can get an excellent internship, has the possibility to study abroad in Finland, can participate in an inter-collegiate project management competition and will have many other opportunities for being a leader on campus. These are valuable experiences that add to the student’s portfolio of skills and experiences.”

A few spring 2017 graduates already have possibilities waiting for them after graduation. Andrew Martin, a senior majoring in international business, already has one job offer after graduation back in his home state of Indiana. However, at this time he’s also pursuing a few other lucrative opportunities.

One of the keys to employment success in the ISB has been the quality internships that many of the students have undertaken. ISB Dean Kevin Manninen stated that “landing a quality internship is very important as it gives the student employment experience while also allowing them to demonstrate that they possess the necessary communication and business skills. At the same time they are able to prove that they can be dependable, handle responsibility and show initiative.“

Learn more about Finlandia University’s International School of Business at finlandia.edu/business.