As we head into the second week of My Future Fest, the event not to be missed is the Future Fest Fair. We’ve changed up the Grad Fair a little this year and have moved it from the end of the academic year in May to February. Taking place this Monday (17 February) at The Academy, the fair gives you the chance to bag those graduate jobs, internships and summer opportunities now and have your summer sorted sooner.
With over 50 organisations there are plenty of opportunities available. Whether you’re in your first or second year looking for an internship or placement, or in your final year looking for a job following graduation or you’re thinking about postgraduate study, there’s something for everyone at the fair.
We’ve rounded up our top tips to make sure you get the most out of it.
1. Do some research
Before you attend the fair, have a look online at the list of exhibitors and google them. This is your chance to see what companies are attending, what sector they work in, and the types of opportunities they are offering. Make a shortlist of the ones you would like to find out more about. You don’t have to do hours of research, just having an idea of who you want to speak to will help you navigate the fair better. You can have a look at the list of exhibitors and the floor plan here – helping you to make your plan of action.
2. Think of some questions
Have a few questions written down in advance. What would you really like to know about the employer, the role? A lot of information about a company will be on their website – such as their application process, so think of some questions where the answers aren’t online. If you need some ideas for questions, have a look at the ‘what should I do at the fair’ info sheet on the Careers website.
3. Keep an open mind
The majority of the exhibitors at the fair will have opportunities for students from any degree discipline. If it’s a company you’ve heard of, or your research shows they work in a certain industry, don’t just assume they only have roles in that area. Large companies often have roles across the board, they all have HR departments and need marketing, so keep an open mind as to what might be on offer.
Also don’t dismiss recruitment companies straight away, many large organisations use recruitment companies as they have lots of opportunities that they need to fill. Check and see if they are any roles you might be interested in.
4. Make notes
Whether you take a pen and paper or make notes on your phone, make sure you have a way to write down what you’ve been told. You might be speaking to quite a few different exhibitors, so make note of who has said what. You’ll need to refer to it later if you decide to make an application.
5. Ask for advice if you need it
With a large amount of exhibitors sometimes going to a Careers Fair can feel a little bit overwhelming, especially if you’ve had a look at the list of employers and still are undecided on exactly what it is your looking for (which is completely normal by the way).
At the fair there will be members of staff from The Careers Service, so if you have any questions or need advice there’ll be someone there to help – all you need to do is ask.
For more information and to find out what else is on during My Future Fest have a look at the Careers website.