3 reasons to get down to the Autumn Fairs University of Manchester Careers Blog

3 reasons to get down to the Autumn Fairs Alright, heading over to Manchester Central Convention Centre may seem like a bit of a trek. But there’s plenty to gain from coming along to one of our upcoming fairs, whatever your degree subject and whether you’ve given your future some thought or not. So why should you make time to attend a fair? To explore what’s out there! It’s not unusual to be a bit unsure about what you’re going to do after you graduate â€" but you could get a clearer idea of what you might like to do by chatting to employers and recent graduates at the fairs. You can find out from ‘big’ recruiters like Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover, PwC, Shell and Unilever what their graduate jobs and schemes are really like, or discover the opportunities available with organisations like Coca Cola, the Civil Service, Frontline, Warburtons and Sky. There’ll be positions available to students of any degree discipline in a wide variety of sectors, from business, finance and the public sector to IT, marketing, engineering and HR, so the fairs are an ideal opportunity to find out what kinds of jobs are out there for graduates of your degree. To bag yourself an internship or some work experience Even if you’re not in your final year, popping down to the fairs can still be really beneficial. Many of the exhibitors at the fair will also be looking to recruit students for spring and summer internships, whilst there’ll be plenty of placement opportunities up for grabs at the Engineering, Science and Technology Fair. Speaking to employers about what you’re interested in could also help you secure some work experience to boost your CV. To make useful connections and get tips on tackling application processes Make contact with the companies you’re interested in and get your face (and email address!) known. Build up a network of people doing the sort of work you might like to do â€" you’ll be able to ask them for advice on what you can do to increase your chances of getting the job you want, and they might be able to let you know about any opportunities in that line of work. Talking to recruiters can really help with applying for graduate roles. When writing a cover letter, saying that you’ve spoken to representatives of a company about the sort of work you could be doing with them is a great way of demonstrating your enthusiasm for the position on offer. Recruiters and recent graduates can also give you insight into what application processes are like and what you need to do to make a good impression. There’ll be talks throughout the day offering advice on job applications and best practice in interviews and assessment centres, too. And oh alright, here’s one more… We’ve got free buses running to take you to the fairs and back! They’ll be departing every 30 minutes from Brunswick St. Your ticket for the fair is your ticket for the bus. So not being able to get to Manchester Central is no excuse not to go! So which fair is for me? The Business, Finance and Management Fair â€" Tuesday 20 October, 10.30am-4.00pm Contrary to its name, this fair is not just for Business, Finance or Management students. Exhibitors are happy to recruit students from any degree discipline, offering positions in a huge variety of sectors, such as retail, HR and marketing. There’ll be representatives from both international companies like Bloomberg, Coca Cola, Unilever and PwC, and public sector organisations like the Civil Service, Frontline and HM Treasury. Check out the full list of exhibitors here and register to attend here. The Engineering, Science and Technology Fair â€" Wednesday 21 October, 10.30am-4.00pm Bringing together over 80 companies such as Ford, Fujitsu, IBM, L’Oréal, Siemens and Shell, you’re sure to find something inspiring at this fair. Discover a huge range of opportunities in a wide range of sectors, from research and IT to energy and manufacturing. We’ve got a full list of the companies attending here and register to attend here. The Postgraduate Study â€" Monday 16 November, 10.30am-4.00pm Not quite ready to put your student days behind you? Discover thousands of postgraduate courses available to study both in the UK and overseas at the Postgraduate Study Fair, get advice on financing your course and find out what postgrad study is really like from current Masters and PhD students. Register to attend here. The Law Fair â€" Tuesday 17 November, 12.30pm-4.00pm Wondering what a Law career would be like? This fair is a mine of insider insight into the legal sector â€" and it’s open to students of any degree discipline, not just Law. Find out about vacation placements and training contracts, meeting graduates in the midst of their professional training, and get advice from industry leaders and professional bodies, as well as members of The Bar. Register to attend here. All Events and fairs Undergraduate career planning careers Careers fair employers graduate schemes Internships job hunting job market jobs Options summer internships