Career Day Met With Mixed Student Reactions

BY AMIRA SHERIF

Complaints were rife as Career Day came to an end last week with both organizers and students saying they were disappointed in low turnout and fewer employment options.

Organizers said that despite the preparations and effort exerted to attract as many students as possible, turnout did not meet expectations.

“We don’t know how to attract the students anymore and how to bring them to such an important day,” said Maha Fakhry, the Director of Recruitment and Employer Relations.

She said that the preparations for the event began two month ago as organizers had to contact the participants early due to accommodate their schedule.

This reporter noticed industry and company representatives waited to meet with students, but only a few showed up.

Career Day is held every year and features representatives from a number of industries such as fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), food and beverage, chemical, telecommunication, advertising, human rights, international affairs and many more.

Students were introduced to 25 industries in 40 career fields, and had the opportunity to bring all their questions and concerns to the professionals and learn from their experiences.

There were one-on-one sessions that enabled the students to gain insights on how to better plan for their desired career paths, and gain access to a professional network.

“The core of the event is to help students understand and draw a link between their academic majors, career fields of choice and industries,” said Fakhry.

Students were particularly enthusiastic and lined up around actor Khaled Abo El Naga and music composer Tamer Karawan who took the day off from working on their new film to participate.

“It’s the first time that I find such emphasis on the cinematic and musical fields in theuniversity,“ said Caroline Ilias, a Theater senior.

She added that the Performance and Art booth this year had a lasting impression, likely because of the presence of celebrities.

“I feel like I am giving back what I earned from my college,” said El Naga, himself an alumnus.

He also added that Career Day is very important for students pointing out that he first got a job through a career day event at the old campus.

But students remained divided about how much benefit they can reap from such career events.

“The career day was very beneficial as it provided me with career path information and the one-on-one talks with the professionals gave me an overview of how the practical work looks like, having the chance also to share my fears and questions to them,” said Ali Hossam an Accounting Senior.

But Salma Hegab, a fresh graduate, shook her head and said she found the event to be a waste of time and money.

“They could have set up a number of workshops on career management instead of holding a ‘Day’ that provides little value to the student or graduate,” Salma Hegab, a fresh graduate, said.

She added that industry representatives provided little beyond advice on working hard and being dedicated to studying.

As opposed to the employment fair, where students are met with job offers, experts available at the Career day only provide students with advice.