Feature

Job Fairs: A corporate passage

Mohammad Isam

Job fairs are becoming a more common method of entry-level recruiting and initial screening. For many students, job fairs provide a 'freebie' opportunity to meet with multiple employers on the same day. For the corporate recruiter, they offer an opportunity to reach interviewing terminal velocity -- the highest possible number of prospects in the shortest possible amount of time.

Job fairs are a sort of meat market of the entry-level job market, with employers sizing up candidates quickly, based on appearances, communication skills, and first impressions.

On November 3, along with hundred other companies, British American Tobacco Bangladesh took part in American International University's Job Fair at their Campus 1 and 5 and donated 10 books on leadership to the host university's library.

The daylong programme, which had plenty of enthusiasm and a high turnout, was organised to facilitate both career seekers and employers looking for better opportunities to amplify their values and career.,The campus-sponsored job fair, as held in AIUB, is by far the most popular for college students.

It is ideal for most college students since it is convenient, the lines are generally shorter than at commercial job fairs, and employers are predisposed to and familiar with your college.

Ashfaque, a business student at AIUB, said that the recent job fair provided him an opportunity to get closer to 'corporate reality'. When asked to explain, he said that he had very little idea of how a corporate deals with practical situations. As a result, his meeting with the hiring managers gave him an insight into the corporate world's operation with the real world. Zahed of North South University, who crossed the Kamal Ataturk Avenue to attend the fair, believed that even though he is confident of crossing over from the educational realms to the one of work, the job fair gave him an even 'clearer picture'. Zahed was impressed by BAT's interactive session, performed by head of human resources QM Shahed. It had a lasting impression on him as he said, “My seniors were right; BAT is the ultimate place to work for a business graduate in Bangladesh.”

The interactive session, held in the AIUB Auditorium, focussed on leadership and career path. Sanzid Alvi Ahmed, HR manager, talent & resourcing, discussed the recruitment process of BAT with the students. The session was concluded with the gracious presence of honourable Pro VC of AIUB Dr. Taffazal Hossain, Dr Anowar Hossain Dean of the business faculty and R Tareque Moudud, director of Placement and Alumni office.

Job fairs have a set of rules and protocols all their own. But if someone understands how to effectively work within the system, one can easily double or triple productivity and effectiveness.

Often many of the attendees at job fairs are window shoppers who are just browsing to see what is available. While this approach may seem valid, take note that job fairs are not a get-acquainted session to meet prospective employers. They are first interviews where the plain vanilla candidates are stepped on and over by those who are targeted and prepared. Even the 2-3 minute greeting and exchange of sound bites is a real interview. One is being evaluated, whether it is for thirty seconds or thirty minutes. One always needs to be at his/her very best, if they are to succeed at the job fair of the new millennium. One has to take a very aggressive, yet structured approach.