Business Studies for International Students

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Kevin Chiang. Vitae on my website.
You can call a faculty member (1) “Professor,”
(2) “Professor X,”, (3) “Dr. X” if he/she has a doctoral degree, or (4) his/her first name only if the faculty member explicitly told you to do so.
Some faculty members do not like to be called “Mr. X,” “Mrs. X,” of “Ms. X.”

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Name
Major? Why?
Why U.S.? Why UVM?
More about you: sports, music, family, personality, etc.
The most exciting, memorable, or unexpected experience during the past few weeks?

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Read the syllabus carefully.
If you are sick, send the professor an e-mail and do not come.
If you are not sick, you
attend the class.
Be on time. American professors do not like tardiness. Tardiness is interpreted as rudeness, a lack of consideration of others, or a lack of interest.
You should complete submit them
!
assignments and
in the U.S.

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Open door policy
E-mail
Consider me your friend
We can talk about anything you wish

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Business writing via templates
Business oral presentation
Intercultural communication and leadership

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Accounting
Finance
Marketing
Human resource management
Entrepreneurship
MIS
International business
Production and operations
Management and the environment

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Follow your heart
If possible, do double-concentration

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English proficiency
Networking with American students
Identify American high-achievers as teammates
Attendance
Choosing general education courses wisely
Submit all the works and submit them on time
Check the status of your performance with professors from time to time
Go to see the advisor often and asap
Politely request old exam samples
Study early! One chapter at a time

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Often tie to current events; not just textbook
Misunderstand the question, particularly essay questions
Seek to clarify the question
Access office for international students?
Faculty member’s discretion

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You should not use a voice recorder or camcorder in a classroom unless you have the permission from the instructor
Teaching materials are instructors’ intellectual properties
You should use teaching materials for educational (not commercial) purposes

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Most professors have a well-defined grading scheme
For example: 2 exams, each accounting for
30%; 4 reports, each accounting for 10%
Suppose that you earn 89 and 92 (out of 100) for the two exams and 8, 9, 10, and 9 (out of
10) for the 4 reports
Your score: 89×0.3 + 92×0.3 + (8+9+10+9)
= 90.3
This most likely earns you an “A-”

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A or A+: 4.00; A-: 3.66; B+: 3.33; B: 3.00; B-
: 2.66; C+: 2.33; C: 2.00; C-: 1.66; D+: 1.33;
D: 1.00; D-: 0.66; F: 0.00
Suppose that you earn the following grades:
Course 1 (3 credit hours): A-; Course 2 (2 credit hours): B; Course 3 (3 credit hours): B+
Your GPA: (3 × 3.66 + 2 × 3.00 + 3 × 3.33) /
8 = 3.3712

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GPA each semester >= 2.00
If not, on trial
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(1)Cumulative GPA < 2.00
(2)Earn too many F’s in a semester ( exceeding a half of credit hours)
(3) Being on trial and still not being able to meet the trial targets
Either (1), (2), or (3) could lead to dismissal
Dismissal = stay in China for 1 year

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Check your grades at the end of the semester
Check your e-mails about notification
Pack your things before you leave the campus

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Research is very important for many of them
Tenure system
They often see you only during their office hours
But see them often if you have questions
Equal employment: gender, religion, race, disabilities
Do not close the office door
Service dog

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Thanksgiving break
Winter break
Spring break
Flushing, NY (LaGuardia airport, LGA)
Get a driver license?

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Airline ticket, hotel, rental car: expedia.com
Restaurant reviews: yelp.com
Ratemyprofessors.com? Better indicator: see how fast a course is filled up (if multiple sections)?
Google maps and street pictures

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BSAD career development
Sunday edition of major local newspapers
Internet websites: monster.com
Major firms’ corporate websites
University job fairs and UVM Career Services
(Living and Learning, Building E 140
633 Main St.)
Through your relationships and relatives in the U.S.
The branch offices of Chinese firms in the
U.S.

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BSAD career development
Your family and relatives in China
International or local firms in your home town

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Resume/vitae
Cover/application letter
No photograph
Goal: You want these document strong enough to get you an interview opportunity

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Job preparation is about building a strong vitae
Think about what kind of vitae that you want to build in the next 3-4 years

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Name, address, telephone number, e-mail address
Should not include your age, gender, family, marital status, religion, ethnicity

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Give the reader an idea of what type of work you want and your plan for advancement and your professional life

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Universities attended
GPAs
Dean’s list?
Honor college? http://www.uvm.edu/~honcoll/

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UVM Career Services http://www.uvm.edu/~career/
Internships: Chinese firms in U.S.?
International firms in China?
TAs, RAs
University jobs
Jobs in China

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Professional certificates: CPA, CFA level I, etc.
Membership: Investment club, marketing association, etc.
Computer fluency: Excel programming, SAS, etc.

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They want to hire someone they feel comfortable with: personality, capacity, communication skills, etc.
English fluency
Chitchat
Confidence
Image: look/dress smart and sharp
Know your stuff

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Dress smartly.
The general rule: dress relatively conservatively; “buttoned up”
Relatively conservative suit and tie for men: dark formal suit in charcoal gray, navy, or black
Relatively conservative dress or suit for women

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Good fabric (projecting credibility and status): e.g., 100% wool suit
Good fit
Women should wear clothes that give good coverage; the definition of good coverage changes gradually over time

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Not a trivial task
Excellent English
The first job is always the most difficult one to get
Networking (also in China?), starting with your UVM classmates, both American and
Chinese classmates

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You have a few years to figure it out
Be happy
Learn, not just memorizing
Expecting a challenging first Fall semester
Things get easier after the first Fall semester
When you have any issue, come to see me asap (no need to be shy and wait)
China is rising; going back to Asia (China,
Singapore, H.K., etc.) is also an attractive option for many of you

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4 persons each Thursday