 |
| Exhibitors mingling with students at The Big Meet |
Students had the opportunity to mingle with graduates and representatives from organisations both in the public and private sector, including companies such as Westpac, NSW Government, Schneider Electric, Reece and Coles!
Best tips for navigating a big careers event
1. Select who you talk to carefully
It’s easy to be tempted to talk to all the exhibitors at a large event like this. However, you only have 3 hours, and even though this sounds like a lot of time, time flies! This is where prior research before the event comes in handy. Having a list or idea of who you want to talk to before you walk in allows you to maximise your time. Aim for quality over quantity.
2. Talk to the representatives
It can be daunting talking to a complete stranger but all the exhibitors are nice people! They have been chosen to represent their brand so they are easy to talk to and have great knowledge of the brand.
Learn about their experiences and don’t be afraid to ask them about how it’s like working for that company! Many of the representatives are graduates so they were in your shoes not too long ago and can relate. They’ll give you first hand insights and tips you probably can’t find elsewhere. They also might recommend you a graduate stream you weren’t previously looking into - so grab the opportunity.
It’s a nice way to also make a great first impression. Many of the exhibitors will also have one HR representative on the stall so if you stand out, they might just remember you when they’re reviewing your application!
3. Don’t be afraid to network and keep in touch
A lot of the representatives were actually surprised that more students didn't ask for their contact details to keep in touch. Don’t be afraid when you’re wrapping up the conversation to request their LinkedIn details so you can keep in touch. After all, LinkedIn is a platform for professional networking so most representatives will be fine with connecting on LinkedIn! Some might also drop you a business card if they like you.
Connecting on LinkedIn is also a great way to see their company culture firsthand. A lot of them will post about what they do at work so you can really see the “insider perspective” of the company. You might also pop up on their feeds once in a while and there’s no harm in that right?
Attend networking and career events!
They’re a great way to meet new people, build your professional network and gain first hand knowledge of what it’s like to work in a particular company! You never know what you might learn and it may even assist you in landing a job at your dream company! There’s also free merchandise - who can say no to that?
 |
| Goodie bags from The Big Meet |
The Careers and Employability Office (CEO) runs a suite of great networking and career-related events through semester. Stay tuned to our Facebook group and Canvas page to stay up to date with what’s on offer
Written by Oliver Pang
4th year Commerce (Liberal Studies) student
No comments:
Post a Comment