Hospitality Business Management: - College of Business ...

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STUDENT NEWS One Year Out A Recent MBA Graduate Looks Back After completing her MBA in May 2005, Yvonne Rodriguez’s career options were wide open. “I applied to about 50 different companies and 75 different positions,” she recalled. “I put my resume on monster.com. I went to every major food company’s Web site in the United States…even Germany, Australia.” Then Rodriguez was offered interviews at two companies, both of which offered her a job. She chose Kraft Foods, which offered her a supervisor’s position in distribution and operations at their facility in Fresno, California. It’s a natural fit for someone with an MBA and an undergraduate degree in biological systems engineering, plus a strong research background. “I love my job,” she said. “I have a really good boss and he’s given me a lot of responsibility. He’s put faith in me and allows me to spread my wings. I’m so lucky to have him as my manager. I try to pass on the wisdom he gives me to my employees.” She currently manages 55 employees, and the company will likely increase it to 70 for the two production lines she oversees, Rodriguez said. Four floor leads report directly to her, plus a distribution clerk. She works with internationally known ready-to-drink brands, including Crystal Light and Capri Sun. Kraft has been tremendous in helping her map out a career path that fits her ambitions, she said. “There is a really great program within the company that helps you and your manager align your goals to further your career,” she said. “It covers mobility, interests, where your final destination is. It’s about where you want to go and how they can get you there.” Kraft’s programs—and her manager’s support—have given her confidence in her abilities, Rodriguez says. She in turn tries to pass that on to her employees. “Most of them have just a high school education,” she said. “They’ve been manual workers their whole life, and haven’t had anyone to encourage them. Some Yvonne Rodriguez 34 WSU College of Business
have a lot of potential. I’ve been encouraging leadership potential for some of them.” Her MBA classes have been a tremendous asset on the job, she said, especially Ken Butterfield’s course on management. She constantly draws on the knowledge she gained in that class, she says. “That class has been a definite help in my role as supervisor so far…how to be a good manager, how to deal with people, with different personalities, conflict management,” she said. As much as she loves her job, the transition from Pullman to Fresno has been tough at times, she said. She spent eight years at WSU altogether, and both she and her 13-year-old daughter Allie had developed a close, tightknit community of friends during their time there. “She really misses her friends,” Rodriguez said. But Allie’s new school in Fresno is excellent, and she’s been able to keep up with her dance studies, one of her passions. “She’s still doing really well,” she said. Rodriguez also misses being able to simply drive to Seattle to visit her family. “Now it’s a $500 flight,” she said. “It’s been hard. I talk to my mom every day on the phone.” Rodriguez trades childcare with a sorority sister who also moved to Fresno. Since she’s on swing shift, her friend watches Allie in the evening. She trades by watching her friend’s baby in the morning. Her job search taught her a few things, she said, that new graduates might consider. “The best thing you can do is focus on three companies you want to work at,” she said. “Apply directly; don’t just use monster.com or any of the online resume sites. “Definitely go to career fairs, get used to talking. I did mock interviews at the career center. Definitely prepare for phone interviews. If you don’t make it on the phone, then you’re not getting a second interview.” With her WSU MBA, Rodriguez gained not only a satisfying job, but also a valuable network of friends. “The feeling of family was the most memorable thing about the MBA program. When I started the program, I was put in classes with people that became friends that I still cherish today. The team structure of the classes really allows for the students to become a family.” —elaine porterfield Dividend 35
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Page 39 and 40: MBA Internship Placement Shariar Ba
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