A few weeks ago, on the final day of the BlogHer ’08 conference, I talked with Karrine McFarlane of Her-media.com and GreatAupair.com about looking locally for virtual assistants. Taking advantage of a local community college or university work program is a great way to not only support your community but give soon-to-be graduates some real life work experience and networking opportunities. 

There is an article at Inc.com that asks the question: Can Student Consultants Help Grow Your Business?

I say yes.

The article talks about a local MBA program that paired the students with a local business.

Becky Oliphant’s (a professor of marketing at Stetson University in Deland, FL) students helped develop a marketing plan and SWOT analysis for a local business called Complete Parachute Solutions – a $33 million company that supplies government agencies with parachutes.

Palo Alto Software has found more than one summer worker and out-of-the-box thinker from the local University of Oregon job center. These are young men and women who are excited to get real world work experience to not only give them a head start on the job market, but put their academic studies to real life situations.

Fresh perspective, great energy, new ideas. What company doesn’t want someone with those qualifications working for them?

‘Chelle Parmele
Social Media Marketing Manager
Palo Alto Software