July 14, 2004 – Donald Trump is looking for his next apprentice and he has sent his team of recruiters in search of talent to the University of Utah. The show’s representatives will be on campus Friday, July 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in room 380 of the Student Services Building. Recruiters from Mark Burnett Productions, producers of the NBC reality hit show The Apprentice, will interview U of U MBA students and Alumni to see if they have what it takes to work for The Donald.
A general casting call will be held in Salt Lake City on Saturday, July 17, 2004, but the University was selected first for this special session. Julie Swaner, Director of Alumni Career Services, said, “the University of Utah has great alumni and students with incredible work ethic. The fact that The Apprentice chose to visit our campus shows that there is something special about earning a formal education here.”
“The Apprentice caught the attention of the business world – including our business students,” said Sheila Steiner, Director of MBA Career Management at the University of Utah. “This is a unique, high profile experience, we’re delighted to have this opportunity and confident that we have excellent candidates.”
Approximately 100 U students and alumni are expected to audition on Friday. Each will have two minutes to share how they will add value to the Trump organization. Those who do well at this audition will be invited to attend a final selection in Los Angeles later this summer. The program has changed since the first season and people of all shapes, sizes, looks, and experience are encouraged to apply.
University of Utah Alumni Career Services was selected to help with the Donald’s search because the office’s mission is to find work for U of U alumni seeking a job change. For a small fee, participants in the program can access job postings, receive individual career counseling, network with other alumni, and attend lectures by guests from the local business community.
MBA Career Management at the David Eccles School of Business also seemed like a great vehicle for finding the next apprentice. The focus of this group is to prepare MBA students to successfully select a career and to aid them in their search for jobs after graduation. This office sponsors mock interviews, mentoring programs, visits to local companies, individual career counseling, and on-campus recruiting visits by local and out-of-state employers.