Riley Webb, a sophomore majoring in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, recently worked at real estate auction firm McCurdy Auction as an apprentice. While enhancing his passion for marketing, Webb received experience in photography, design, public relations, and copyrighting as well.
 
This position was offered as a part of the Career Development Center’s Apprent-ICT program, which was piloted Fall 2018 and Spring 2019. Apprent-ICT helps freshmen and sophomores develop career readiness skills and explore various career fields in a paid position.
 
Opening up networking opportunities with local businesses and a variety of employers, Apprent-ICT offers a new opportunity for underclassmen seeking to develop career ready skills in communication, leadership, teamwork, career management, work ethic, critical thinking, tech savviness, and global fluency. These skills can be applied in any work environment and help students build a more diverse resume, highlighting competencies prior to their first co-op or internship position.
 
Webb acknowledges the amount he learned throughout his time at McCurdy Auction and attributes this experience to opening his eyes to a possible future in a career he wouldn’t have otherwise considered.
 
“This apprenticeship has made me take real estate into higher consideration for a future choice,” he stated.  “I would not have gained the experience of learning about real estate auctions anywhere else in Wichita.”
 
Webb is testament to the fact that hard work and an openness to various career fields can help students realize their favored career path early on. It can also open many doors and help create lasting industry connections.

"Riley fits in so well and he has a real want to learn real estate," Megan McCurdy Niedens validated. "We love him and want to keep him here forever!"

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Wichita State's applied learning program gives students hands-on, paid experience with industry partners, helping them build careers before graduation.

For more information, contact the Shocker Career Accelerator at (316) 978-3688, SCA@wichita.edu, or visit wichita.edu/Career. You can also stop by in person at the Marcus Welcome Center, Suite 139, on the Wichita State campus.