Job Search, Networking and Partying

Networking opportunities, with the industry folks, are always on the priority list for MBA students.  Luckily for us, at Walton, we have a fantastic career center that has made networking easy for us.  Last Tuesday, over 100 employees visited the career fair organized by our career center. The Walker Hall was filled with capacity with representatives from the various companies, and students from the university. MBA students had an added advantage. The career center organized a “Business Career Fair Networking Event”, with the employers, the previous night. We had all prepared posters on our summer internships and it was our chance to interact with the employers.It was a special evening for me.The results of the presentation competition were announced. Thanks to my marvelous opportunity at Mr Price- I WON!

Tammi, Emmanuelle and Caroline at the Business Career Fair Networking Event. Tammi and Adam, not in the picture, won the poster competition.

Manish, Andrew, Devavrata and Jason at the event. Each one of us had a poster on our internship. Jason along with three other classmates, is going to represent our college in a case competition in Michigan.

Krystle and Charles with their posters.

Winners of the presentation competition. David, interned at Kelloggs and came second and Charles worked in China for ACCA

The career fair at Walker Hall. The event required was held at 3 floors of the Walker Hall and also spilled over to the adjacent JB Hunt building

Another view of the fair. The event was a huge success and subsequent to the fair, we saw interviews going on in some rooms at Walker hall

In addition to the networking events our career center has been responsible for setting up sessions with individual companies. This week Cameron and Nielson representatives came down to our university and discussed openings post-graduation. There was one session, which was of particular interest to the international students. Walmart has opened up an international academy and offering full time job opportunities for international students seeking to return to India, Brazil and China, after working for 1 year in Bentonville. They are focusing on three areas of business- supply chain, real estate and merchandising. At the University of Arkansas, this program is ideal and very well suited for many international students. Participants benefit from experiencing the work culture in US and also get the opportunity to take it back to the countries and implement it.

Bikes, Blues and BBQ was all the rage in Fayetteville this weekend. It was a time to just chill with friends, enjoy the rallies as hundreds of bikers rode up and down Dickson Street on their bikes. I had never witnessed the event before and I enjoyed watching the bikes and their antics. In addition to the bikes the concert and the food stalls are a major crowd puller.  I enjoyed a particularly juicy, BIG turkey leg. It was big. Monday has our first semester exam in store for us and my whole class is busy accounting (that’s the subject). I really need to forget the bikes and get on with my financial statements. J

David Dai, clicked these absolutely magnificent B&W pix to capture the action. I just had to include them.

Another magical click by David

I want a Harley too!

Crazy action at Dickson

Yaay, I saw a monkey riding a bike

The stage constructed for the event

Cultural Diversity at the University of Arkansas

This week, in between valuing the intrinsic value of company, comparing the financial statements of two organizations, working on a website for a accounting project and learning to use analytical problem solving methods for the corporate world I got a chance to enjoy some cultural time. This week was loaded was loaded with assignments and all my classmates were busy with their teams to submit their respective assignments before the deadline. However, the awesome fall weather at Fayetteville proved to be a distraction. It makes me want to go for long walks in the trails all along Fayetteville. While hustling to the student’s union to get my poster printed for a poster competition, I found a mariachi band playing at the open air theater and stopped to enjoy the music.

Like I said, as if the weather is not distraction enough we had awesome  music to help delay our assignments

Cultural diversity at the University of Arkansas makes it a fun place to be. Students from all over the world proudly display their cultures at events organized all through the semester. Friends of India celebrated Indian independence today. Along with great food, they had organized a colorful cultural program. This was a great way to end the week as just last night I got to catch up on a Bollywood movie that was playing at a nearby theater. Below are some pictures of some of the events I have been to, since I joined the Walton MBA.

One of the lovely participants at the Independence day function, organised by the Friends of India.

Last Spring, we celebrated Holi at Wilson Park. Senthil and XiaoYan had a awesome time.

Samita, XiaoYan and I just happened to stumble across a event organised by the International Students and Scholars. The photo booth was fun.  I have no idea which country the  girls are represent but, I know I am wearing a Mexican poncho.

On Friday night, our classmate Trish hosted a party at her place. It was a great way to relax after a hectic week and we all took great pleasure at trashing her house. Thanks Trish!

Isn't it great to have a blog and put embarrassing pictures of your friends. Smile Jessica!  Caroline, Emmanuelle and Mark at  the party on Friday night.

p.s - Next week updates about the events organized by our awesome career center

The beginning of the end:Countdown from the Academic to the Practicing Community

It’s been three weeks since my last post and, I sincerely apologize.  But, to my defense the classes have started, plans for the football matches are on, the internship presentation was held and I am in the top three and, Fayetteville is awesome. Okay, the last point does not really help my case but, Fayetteville is awesome.

I would like to start my blog with a clean slate and so a quick recap of the purpose my blog. I came to the United States for the purpose of working hard, earning a degree, and landing the perfect job.  What I didn’t expect to happen was that while working hard, I would find a nurturing environment; while I began earning my degree, I found that I became a part of a professional and academic environment that taught me the importance of community and networking; and finally, I found that through the environment, community, and network, I began enculturation into the professional that will give me a marketing edge.  Over the next few months, I hope to document my movement through the last lag of my academic journey. 

The beginning of the semester, meant a few block parties. There was one at the courtyard and a few over at the Union. This is one of the advantages of studying in a community college. “The Community Spirit”- the warmth and affection that is showered on you not to mention, the free food. As a student, who is now cooking for the first time ever in life, I can’t explain the joy of free food. J

Block party at the courtyard behind Walker Hall

Mark, Devavratha, XiaoYan, Charles and Samita at the block  party.  Friends, food, fun, food, :-) What else do we students need.

Today was a sad day for all the Razorback fans. We lost a match to Alabama. This is my first experience with college football. Even though the razorbacks have not fared well, this season, I will proudly cheer on for them in the future matches. The students are allowed to buy a pass that gives them access to most matches in the Donald W Reynolds College Stadium. The present capacity is about 70000 and when the seats are brimming with hog fans and the stadium erupts into the hog call, the feeling is exuberating. Well, better luck next time. Woo Pig Sooie

My first experience of college football

Go Hogs!

Today's match did not end well but, U of A is the best. 

Classes are on with full swing and in between my assignments and GA work I am enjoying my free time with my friends. This week we stumbled upon a great Chinese place called East Buffet. No amount of assignment can stop us Waltonites from heading over to Dickson over the weekends to charge up for the next week. Like I said no amount of assignment; it’s Saturday, time to meet and mourn the match today with my fellow mates.

A visit to Eureka Springs, a 1 .5 hour drive from Fayetteville,  with visiting friends.

The fortune cookie had predicted my win on the day of the Internship  presentation. Not Kidding.

 Weekend fun at Dickson with Jessica and Matt.