Local and international industry players such as Monocle Solutions, Investec, Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Amazon to name a few, will converge at UCT’s Sports Centre this week to recruit students and present possible career opportunities ranging from vacation work, internships, graduate jobs and international opportunities.
Ingrid van der Merwe, UCT’s head of Career Advisory Service, said: “Students are in for a treat this year with Careers Service hosting the biggest job expo on campus to date. We usually run a series of Careers Expos in the second semester as part of our annual Careers Festival, but this year we are condensing 10 expos into one day.”
Companies will be looking to recruit students from all academic backgrounds. Participating organisations span many sectors – including retail, banking, technology and healthcare.
Hishamodien Hoosain, acting head of Employer Relations at Careers Service, commented: “This Expo gives students a chance to meet people from many high-profile organisations they may have seen in the annual Careers Service Guide.”
He adds that UCT is ranked seventh in the world for student employability, and expos like this one are key to helping students successfully find jobs after they graduate. Employers will be looking for skills that most students have developed, regardless of their subjects, like critical thinking, analytical skills and working in diverse teams to name a few.
Van der Merwe encourages students to be open minded when looking at opportunities and to be aware that they don’t only have opportunities that are directly related to their course content. Employers look for students who can adapt and grow into their context.
The line-up for the TED-style talks includes a presentation by David Buckham, CEO of Monocle Solutions – a specialist consulting firm that services global clients. Buckham is a UCT alumnus holding a BSc in Maths and a master’s degree in English literature. He is also a published novelist. Buckham will be speaking on the future world of work.
Other topics include tips on branding yourself, using LinkedIn, the power of a humanities degree and how companies practice sustainability to name a few.
“The Epic Job Expo will provide an unmissable opportunity for students, in all years of their degrees, to interact, connect and discover what potential employers have to offer someone with their particular degree,” concluded Hoosain.
Students in the earlier stages of their studies can learn what employers are looking for and use this information to develop their skills and experience to give them a head start before graduation day.
For more information, vist the Epic Job Expo.
