by Raymond Gajitos
If you're reading this, chances are that you're thinking about life after graduation. That can be a daunting prospect, and you may be asking yourself questions like "What exactly does my degree qualify me for?" or "What jobs and opportunities are out there for me?"
A great way to get answers to your questions is by attending careers fairs, and you don't have to travel far to do that because Macquarie University's Career and Employment Service organises Careers Fairs in campus twice every year.
Careers Fairs are aimed at providing students with professional insights from a broad range of employers. In addition, these fairs showcase the graduate programs and other employment opportunities that participating organisations have on offer.
I went to last semester's fair where a broad range of organisations were present, including AMP, Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Woolworths Ltd., Australian Defence Force, Telstra, and Bloomberg.
In the fair, I learned that while several of these organisations are more relevant to specific fields such as accounting and law, a large number were more open to meeting graduates from various disciplines. For these organisations, the graduates' type of degree was less of a concern, as they are focused more on personality, as well as interpersonal and analytical skills, in judging whether or not they would be a good fit for the organisation.
That isn't to say that a degree is not highly valued; it certainly provides a vital and solid foundation for developing skills and knowledge needed for career and life. Several organisations mentioned that they took any degree into consideration, but saw a background in a relevant field as a distinct advantage. It was also indicated that it was useful for a graduate to have developed strong critical and lateral thinking skills during their studies, particularly for consultancy-based firms.
Throughout the course of the event, students were invited to leave feedback as they exited the venue. Many of them came away feeling positive, having gained a better idea about what options were available to them after graduation. Others had come with the intention of speaking to only a few organisations, but had found themselves exploring pathways that they would have otherwise not considered or even been aware of.
I encourage you to come to Careers Fair and learn more about where your degree and skills can take you. And who knows - perhaps you will meet your future employer here.
Monday 10th August 2015
12pm to 3pm
E7B Interior Courtyard
Register now at CareerHub
If you're reading this, chances are that you're thinking about life after graduation. That can be a daunting prospect, and you may be asking yourself questions like "What exactly does my degree qualify me for?" or "What jobs and opportunities are out there for me?"
A great way to get answers to your questions is by attending careers fairs, and you don't have to travel far to do that because Macquarie University's Career and Employment Service organises Careers Fairs in campus twice every year.
Careers Fairs are aimed at providing students with professional insights from a broad range of employers. In addition, these fairs showcase the graduate programs and other employment opportunities that participating organisations have on offer.
I went to last semester's fair where a broad range of organisations were present, including AMP, Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Woolworths Ltd., Australian Defence Force, Telstra, and Bloomberg.
In the fair, I learned that while several of these organisations are more relevant to specific fields such as accounting and law, a large number were more open to meeting graduates from various disciplines. For these organisations, the graduates' type of degree was less of a concern, as they are focused more on personality, as well as interpersonal and analytical skills, in judging whether or not they would be a good fit for the organisation.
That isn't to say that a degree is not highly valued; it certainly provides a vital and solid foundation for developing skills and knowledge needed for career and life. Several organisations mentioned that they took any degree into consideration, but saw a background in a relevant field as a distinct advantage. It was also indicated that it was useful for a graduate to have developed strong critical and lateral thinking skills during their studies, particularly for consultancy-based firms.
Throughout the course of the event, students were invited to leave feedback as they exited the venue. Many of them came away feeling positive, having gained a better idea about what options were available to them after graduation. Others had come with the intention of speaking to only a few organisations, but had found themselves exploring pathways that they would have otherwise not considered or even been aware of.
I encourage you to come to Careers Fair and learn more about where your degree and skills can take you. And who knows - perhaps you will meet your future employer here.
Careers Fair Semester 2, 2015
Monday 10th August 2015
12pm to 3pm
E7B Interior Courtyard
Register now at CareerHub
