Every spring semester, more than 100 sophomore business students gather for an intensive two-day conference where they learn the crucial networking and interview skills required to succeed in a competitive job market.

This is Q-camp, and it’s one of the reasons that Poets&Quants for Undergrads recently recognized the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business as one of top 20 undergraduate business schools in the nation.  

The Robins School has landed in the publication’s top 20 for three years running. This year, the business school is also identified as one of two programs that reported 100% employment for 2023 job-seeking graduates within three months of graduation. 

“Our priority is to introduce students to career readiness skills before they need them,” said Shelley Olds Burns, director of the Center for Professional Skills and Development for the Robins School of Business.  

“Understanding employer expectations and practicing those skills with alumni and corporate partners ahead of time gives our students the confidence to effectively build key relationships," she said. "In addition to a rigorous curriculum, we teach them the soft skills they need to find fulfilling work and succeed at the companies they join."

As examples, Burns pointed to the Robins Mentoring Program, which pairs senior executives with students to provide one-on-one career coaching and practice effective mentor engagement, and to the Q-camp career-readiness conference. “Sessions such as mock interviews and speed networking afford students the chance to build relationships with alumni, corporate partners, and faculty,” she said.

Mickey Quiñones, dean of the business school, also notes that hands-on experiential learning is key to preparing students for real-world employment.

“Our focus continues to be on creating an exceptional learning experience in and out of the classroom that prepares students to make a positive impact,” he said. “We know that the world is dynamic, and we constantly evaluate our approach to stay relevant.”