BY NICOLE PATRICK-GIBSON
De Montfort University opened their biggest careers fair for students in the newly transformed building The Venue@DMU this week.
The event held in the modern £5.4million site on Tuesday 27 and Wednesday October 28, exhibited some of the biggest names in UK graduate recruitment to come and talk to students about what they had to offer.
Hundreds attended the lively fair to make connections and find out about internships, placements and graduate schemes.
DMU Careers and Employability made an appearance at the event to give advice to students.
Employability officer Amardeep Pansar said: “We’ve had lots of graduates and undergraduates come to us today asking for help with improving employability so we’ve given tips on improving CVs and networking or suggested they book an appointment with us.”
The university’s careers team offers a range of resources such as mentoring and coaching.
He added: “This exhibition is a great opportunity for both students to network and see what’s out there for them.”
Popular businesses such as ASOS, George @ Asda, Boots and Vodaphone were present looking to recruit DMU goers.
A spokesperson for Next said: “We’ve been told our trainee scheme programmes are probably some of the best in the industry. We would really like to take on people who love retail, fashion and business.”
A range of presentations were also given throughout the days such as talks on exchange trips to Japan and ‘A day in the life of an IT professional’ given by FDM groups.
Campus recruitment agency Unitemps came to the event to remind students there are opportunities to boost their CV whilst at university.
Recruitment resourcer Chris McMinn said: “We’re trying to get as many people as possible to sign up to our email list today which advertises jobs to fit around their schedules. It will probably make it slightly easier to find and apply to jobs later on.”
As well as big companies, other agencies and organisations made the agenda including Macmillan, AmeriCamp and Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCiL), making work experience placements an option for students too.
Project Manager for LCiL John Coster said: “We’re always looking for volunteers and getting people involved with what we do. There are also chances for writing for our quarterly magazine.”
Maisie Danson, biomedical undergraduate student,
said: “The careers fair has been really useful for me and opened up some options I didn’t know about. Now I feel a bit more confident about graduating.”
For more information visit dmu.ac.uk/careers.
