The fair in numbers
On the 27 to 28 April we held this year’s Spring Recruitment Fair, which was at the Careers Service (Tyndall Avenue) for the first time. Despite the cold, two marquees stood on the pavement outside, opening up the fair to passers-by.
40 different employers were present across the two days: Amazon, EY, Teach First, PWC, Aldi, Think Ahead, RBS and Severn Trent, to name just a few. They were offering various positions from graduate schemes, to internships and summer work.
Although it was revision season, over 400 students flocked in to
meet these recruiters, with many leaving positive comments, such as that they liked seeing a wide range of employers and that they felt the fair was helpful and informative with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Not just a fair
Other events were held in association with the fair: leading employers gave a talk on how to prepare for
the fair. On day two you could spot the Careers Advisers (wrapped in scarves and gloves!), along with some of the attending employers, in the marquee for speed interviewing sessions. They offered students the chance to practise their answers to some common interview questions under time pressure, gave feedback and then recommended relevant resources to help them improve their skills.
It was also a good opportunity to pick up some of the free publications available at the Careers Service, browse resources, book appointments and get advice on what to do next to prepare for life after university.
Employers love Bristol students
“Meeting prospective graduates face to face is the best way to get our company known.”
(Local Employer)
“The calibre of students was very high and we met some great candidates.”
(Recruitment Agency Attendee)
Employers come to our fairs because they are interested in you! As one employer commented, recruitment fairs are a “good opportunity for students. Companies come to you and want to hire you. Make good use of that”.
How to prepare for next time
Employer tips:
- Remember to do some research beforehand; look up the companies attending and what kind of roles they offer.
- Think about how to approach the employers you are interested in to make them interested in you! One employer found they had “lots of people saying ‘I don’t know you’ or ‘what is your company’, as opposed to ‘I’d love to learn more about your company’”.
- Don’t ask about pay or visa sponsorship – if they like you then they may be open to negotiation. Find out the essentials beforehand and target the employers relevant to you.
Dates for your diary!
We have more careers fairs in the Autumn Term, all taking place in the Wills Memorial Building:
- Investment Banking and Management Consultancy Evening – 3 October
- Autumn Fair – 11 and 12 October
- Engineering and IT Fair – 18 and 19 October
- Science Fair – 26 October
- Law Fair – 1 and 2 November
Keep an eye on the events pages for these and other events all year round.