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Alum Profiles
Tim Gruidl
Tim Gruidle, 1990 SJU Management alum, was featured in the Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal on November 6, 2009. Click on the following link to read more about the growing success of his business, Fishbowl Solutions, despite the current economic conditions.
http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2009/11/09/smallb1.html
Caroline Frigault
Why I chose to major in MGMT:
I knew from the start I wanted to seek out a management degree at CSB/SJU. I was able to take a variety of courses enabling me to become well rounded in all aspects of business while helping me become prepared for life in the real world. I thoroughly enjoyed the strategic marketing and management courses the college offered. Coming up with efficient business & marketing plans was interesting to me and really allowed me to think creatively out of the box. The professors at CSB/SJU are dedicated and willing to go above and beyond for their students which I learned first hand during my four years on campus.
Why I chose Enterprise Rent A Car:
During my fall and spring semester senior year, I interviewed with multiple companies in hopes of finding a good fit for me. After researching more about Enterprise, I realized that first and foremost I loved the opportunities for advancement the company offered. Additionally, I liked the thought of Enterprise only promoting from within along with the exceptional training program. After accepting the position as a Management Trainee I immediately started to make an impact and take ownership in the business at our Plymouth, MN office. Immediately, I realized that a strong company culture and a fast paced environment were a great fit for me. I could finally put to use all the tools and skills I learned in my management classes! After a few promotions, I am currently a manager running my own office in Bloomington, MN and enjoying the challenges of successfully running a business. I really enjoy developing my people and managing them to strive to reach their potential every day and going above and beyond for our customers and accounts.
Tips for finding a job that fits you :
Don't just look at the starting salary of a particular company, instead focus on the opportunities the company can provide for you long term including compensation, benefits, etc. Be prepared for the interview. What I mean is know where the company has been, where it's going etc. Ask the interviewer what challenges they have faced and some hurdles you may incur, etc. The end of the interview is your chance as the candidate to really impress the interviewer and let them know you've done your research, etc and that you are interested in that particular company.
Sadie Simcox
I graduated high school in 2002 and then in 2005 from CSB/SJU with a degree in Marketing Management. After college I didn't land the dream job so I packed my bags and spent a year off in Hawaii. Beautiful and luxurious as it may be, I didn't go to a top notch school to not use my education. I came back home and started my first professional job with a small outsourcing recruitment firm. After being there for a little over a year, I wanted to get away from recruitment and into the field I studied. Currently I am working as a Project Administrator in Marketing Services for BI. BI is a privately help company that produces measurable results and solutions for companies in multiple avenues. BI is that magic fit and I see a future here.
Why I chose Business Management Degree, emphasis in Marketing;
I enjoy working with people, and I enjoy engaging with people. The strategic planning of how I can change a large group of peoples ideas or thoughts by changing a color on a tagline or product placement i.e., Oreos by milk is something I fully enjoy. When I was in college, the further I got into my major the more I knew it was the right one.
Tips and suggestions:
1. USE YOUR CAREER CENTER and RESOURCES -
You have an amazing team of peers and College staff waiting with open arms to help you. As you can see from my years at CSB/SJU, I graduated in 3 years instead of a traditional 4-5. I took extra credits and summer school to make this possible, and I couldn't have done it without the Administrative team’s help leading me in the right direction.
The Career Center - I fully realize now how I did not use the center to my best interest. The Career Center is a wealth of knowledge as well as a hub of networking capabilities for you to find what your next life step will be. These peers and staff are there to help you hone in on your best strengths, to lay it on paper, to help you have amazing interview skills. Why not use what they are giving you?
2. Try out new things.
Before I went to CSB/SJU I did not want to take Theology or History classes, mainly because I had no interest, however after taking my first year of required generals. I actually really liked those classes and continued to take one each year. These classes are required for a good reason and I am glad I had them. Don't be afraid to venture outside of the box, to try something you wouldn't normally like and after you’ve ventured - go bigger...i.e. crew team, theater, political science - this is a time in your life were you get to try anything you want.
3. Have a good attitude and think BIG PICTURE!!!
When you are working towards that dream job know that you may get turned down before you get there and you are going to have to start from the bottom, (which is a great place because you get to meet everyone and receive a solid base of knowledge which will have you well respected when you get to the top some day). When I got my first professional job, was it my dream job? - No - was it an educational experience? YES!! The chances of you finding/getting the job you will have for the rest of you life right out of college is slim, especially in this degree. But that’s the best part - IN THIS DEGREE. We are tremendously lucky to be in this field and take it anywhere we want. It might be in marketing, management, owning your own business, communications, ANYWHERE. Originally, I didn’t know if I wanted to be in recruitment, after my first position it was apparent I didn’t want to be in recruiting but because of a positive engaging attitude I learned what employers look for, “hidden secrets” as I like to call them, that each hiring manager wants to see on a resume, and what that extra effort was to get me thru the door. Without that experience, I would have never received the privilege of working with BI.
Katie Ranallo
Why I chose to major in MGMT:
I started off my college career as an individualized major, knowing that I wanted to have an emphasis in marketing. I chose to pursue a management major because I believe it gave me the “essentials” that I would need to build a solid foundation before entering a profession in business. The flexibility within the major still allowed me to drive my education into specific directions of interest, resulting in a true personal investment in my classes. I created a set of coursework that I believed would make me most marketable in my fields of interest. I graduated with strong interests in both marketing and entrepreneurship. Marketing courses, creativity & innovation, topics in leadership and entrepreneurship were my favorite courses.
Activities Involved in:
I was a member of the cross country team all four years, and captain my senior year.
I studied abroad spring of my junior year in South Africa.
I was involved in the Management mentor program and a member during the first years of the marketing club.
I wrote a senior honors thesis.
I interned for CentraCare health system’s marketing department for one year under the guidance of John Schnettler (Marketing director and SJU Alum).
Why I chose General Mills:
I had my eyes set on GMI for sometime before I began looking for jobs. General Mills is one of the most sought-after companies because they are known for treating their employees very well. They are an organization with a great reputation – even internationally! I wanted to know that I would continually be challenged and would have the opportunity to gain a career filled with broad experience. They call General Mills the company of champions and the people are really what make the company such a great place to work.
Right now, I’m in sales on a team that works on Category Management. Being this is my first year in Sales, I analyze trends and data on some of our largest categories in Convenience stores (Grains, Salty Snacks, Cereal, etc) and then make recommendations and build sell stories for the field sales representatives. I’ll slowly build a foundation and then begin appearing in front of the customer. I hope to keep moving through the organization, hold some cross functional roles, and eventually earn a leadership position. The possibilities really seem endless here. In a few years, I’d also like to pursue a graduate degree in business.
Advice to students:
Network, network, network! We have a great alum network out there (it’s one of the best) and it’s the best way to explore opportunities that you may not have been aware of.
Start early. It’s never too early to explore opportunities like internships, informational interviews, career opportunities, etc.
Seek multiple and a variety of experiences (study abroad, volunteering, internships, jobs, etc). You can never have too many and the more you have, the more appealing you’ll be to prospective employers.