October 5, 2011 –Tyler Beck knows the economy isn’t what it used to be, and like many college kids, he worried about getting a job after graduation. But that was before Beck, an MBA student at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business, made a career-changing decision—he decided to leverage the skills he learned in class through the university’s Business Career Management Center.

“It’s all about networking, networking, networking,” says Beck.

That fateful decision helped Beck gain a little peace of mind by obtaining a summer internship with Proctor & Gamble (P&G) as an assistant brand manager in the business-to-business arm of the company. Upon completion of his internship and after he graduates, Beck – who will receive his MBA in May 2012 – has now been offered a full-time position with P&G.

“In order to land an internship, and eventually a job, at a Fortune 500 company, it is critical to connect with as many people as possible in the fields that interest you the most,” says Beck. Through the career center at the business school I was able to make a number of valuable connections that ultimately helped me secure a job with P&G when I graduate.”

Beck is one of many students at the David Eccles School of Business gaining valuable experience and making important connections through the school’s Business Career Management Center, and then turning that experience into jobs after graduation.

Under the leadership of Sarah Johnston, the new director of Business Career Management Center and former Senior Vice President at Citibank-Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, students are able to receive guidance and find work experience that fits with their long-term career goals. The new direction in which she has taken the center has already demonstrated results. Despite the decline in national employment, the center successfully placed 92 percent of students looking for summer internship opportunities with companies such as Target Stores, Marriott International, and Ernst & Young.

“In light of today’s economic climate, we strongly felt the business school needed a way to help students face the current job market,” says Johnston. “To accomplish this we revamped the Business Career Management Center to focus on developing life-long skills required of business professionals and helping students establish key relationships that ultimately lead to job placement. We have already seen success in students securing internships or jobs with numerous Fortune 500 companies.”

The Business Career Management Center helped MBA student Tyler Riggs, who will graduate in May 2012, secure a summer internship in Palo Alto with Davia, formerly Groupit.com.

“Sarah Johnston and Dean Taylor Randall are very personable, and always willing to help, whether it’s making a phone call to a key decision maker at a potential employer, or with preparation for an interview, or even just a pep talk,” says Riggs. “They were instrumental in helping me secure my internship at Davia. My first day on the job, the founders of the company sat me and the other three employees down and said ‘we’re pivoting.’ We were starting from scratch. I landed in California with the opportunity to experience the birth of a startup company, and for the next 10 weeks, I was able to participate in its growth. It was very exciting and very eye-opening.”

Executive career coaches with extensive business experience are on hand at the center to help students determine the best ways to market themselves to potential employers, get help with interview preparations and get tips on improving their resumes. The center also works closely with companies to create a custom recruiting strategy that best meets their needs and connects students with businesses that have positions to fill.

About the David Eccles School of Business

Founded in 1917 in Salt Lake City, the David Eccles School of Business has programs in entrepreneurship, technology innovation and venture capital management. Emphasizing interdisciplinary education and experiential learning, it launched the country’s largest student-run venture capital fund with $18.3 million, and is home to the Pierre Lassonde Entrepreneur Center and the Sorenson Center for Discovery and Innovation. Approximately 3,500 students are enrolled in its undergraduate, graduate and executive degree programs as well as joint MBA programs in architecture, law and health administration. For more information, visit www.business.utah.edu.