Students Share Their Career Issues and Daily Life Through the “Fall 2021 Faculty-Student Mentoring Day”

Korea University Business School (Dean= Bae, Johngseok) “Fall 2021 Faculty-Student Mentoring Day” was held for three days from November 24 to 26. The Faculty-Student Mentoring Day began in the year 2007, to help KUBS students meet with their advisors to listen to various advice related to their studies and careers. Furthermore, it aims to foster networking among KUBS students and alumni.

Before the event, Dean Johngseok Bae mentioned the objective of the event by saying, “Today, at times where immediate job openings outnumber traditional open recruitment, KUBS continues to monitor changes in employment trends. We thereby suggest ‘Faculty-Student Mentoring Day’ as an alternative measure for students to find careers in the future.” He added, “We hope this event becomes an opportunity for KUBS students to learn wisdom from their advisors.”

The event was held through an online platform, using breakout rooms to assign professors and students into different rooms. Students started the conversation by sharing their reason for participating in the event. Professors advised the students by saying, “Even it is not necessarily a business school, you should look for areas where you can show your talent,” “You shouldn’t lose interest in the subject just by taking basic courses,” and “If you knock on the door to various activities such as academic societies, external activities, and interns to explore your career, you will be able to live a college life without regrets.”

Moreover, professors shared their undergraduate experiences with their students. Professors mentioned, “It is natural to lose direction as a student.” They encouraged the students by saying that “It is important to listen carefully to the words of others who know me well.”

Furthermore, professors advised students about the importance of experiences. They gave a realistic guideline such as “Rather than blindly studying CPA or going to a law school, you can grow further by developing your perspective on the world through experiences such as taking various lectures and going on an exchange student.” They further added, “Utilizing the alumni network can be helpful,” and that “There is no fixed answer, and every way has its potential.”

Finally, the event ended with a comfortable conversation, where students built rapport with their advisors by sharing their daily lives during the semester and their vacation plans. A KUBS student who participated in the event mentioned, “I had a vague anxiety about exploring a new path, but hearing from the professor about how there are various life paths had me relaxed and motivated.” Another student who answered that he gained confidence through mentoring said, “Before applying to the program, I thought I should be prepared with my position or attitude,” he continued, “but the atmosphere was comfortable, and I felt closer to my advisor.”

Editor | Younghee Chung (School of Media & Communication 20^th)