In March this year Gavin Tye, Relationship Manager at Indigenous Accountants Australia attended a number of university careers fairs throughout Queensland.
From Brisbane to Cairns, to Rockhampton, Toowoomba, Townsville and Brisbane, Gavin traversed the state talking to students, employers and educators.
Being able to directly engage with Indigenous students and build professional relationships with them is a valuable asset that careers fairs offer, says Gavin.
“By making these connections, we can then assist students with the transition into employment.
“As we continue to develop relationships with employers, we can then act as a connection point for students as they near the end of their studies.
“For example, in Sydney we facilitated a vacationer position for Cameron Gillett at Jones Lang LaSalle which proved very successful.”
The Career Fairs were attended by a number of employers, such as KPMG, Commonwealth Bank, BHP Billiton, PwC, Quicksilver Group and Incitec Pivot.
How to get the most out of a Careers Fair
1) It’s all about the networking
Ask questions, make notes, collect business cards. This is your opportunity to make an impression. Make sure that you ask relevant, interesting questions.
2) Go outside your comfort zone
Talking to strangers might not be your thing, but this is great practice for future interviews and networking events. Be confident, look people in the eye and practice that hand shake.
3) Be prepared
Before the career fair, make a list of employers that you want to learn more about. Think about what you want to get out of the day, and how these people can offer you a career that suits your needs. Take a few print outs of your resume just in case.
4) Dress appropriately
Leave the Haviainas at home. To be taken seriously, dress professionally.
5) Don’t just go for the freebies
As much as we all like a free USB stick or drink bottle, at the end of the day, they don’t help us get jobs. Make sure you show interest in the organisation, not just their impressive show bag.