On September 30 and October 1, 2021, BUV Online Career Fair 2021 was held successfully, attracting a large number of students and 36 employers, who are large enterprises from the partner network of British University Vietnam (BUV). This is an event under the Personal Development Programme at BUV to equip students with useful information and skills, and offer them employment opportunities before their graduation. 

BUV Online Career Fair is an annual event organized by BUV for students who want to find internships, jobs, and connections with employers. The event included a wide range of interesting career-oriented activities, covering 3 main themes that are of the most interest to students today, which are: career prospects in hot fields such as real estate; enhancing job searching skills; and effective salary negotiation strategies. 

BUV Online Career Fair 2021 is held on a vibrant online platform 

On the first day of the event, through the talk show “Industry Talk: Careers in Real Estate”, students heard from Mr. Matthew Powell, Director, Savills Hanoi, regarding values, opportunities, and challenges in today’s real estate industry. With more than 15 years of experience in the real estate industry in Vietnam, Mr. Matthew provided the students with an overview of the real estate market and the essential skills to work in this field. From his sharing, students had a better understanding of the real estate industry and the development potential in this field, as well as readied themselves to gather the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the labor market for this industry. 

Talk show “Industry Talk: Careers in Real Estate” 

For students facing difficulties in finding internships and suitable jobs for themselves, ”Skills Workshop: Effective Job Search Strategies” with the participation of Mrs. Dinh Nu Quynh Nhu (Jessie Dinh), Senior Recruitment Consultant of ManpowerGroup Vietnam, helped students solve problems in their applications for internships or searches for their first jobs, and through thorough preparation to be ready to work in a professional environment. With nearly 4 years of experience in the recruitment industry under her belt, Mrs. Quynh Nhu also shared the tools and methods of planning to help students find jobs among countless options, and ways to build a personal brand and expand their networks while they are still studying. 

Also, in a series of activities on September 30, students had the opportunity to interact with Mr. Vu Ba Huy Hoang, an alumnus of BUV and the Hanoi Branch Manager, Employment Vietnam, on the topic of salary negotiation. This is considered a sensitive issue that most young people have little experience with and shy away from frankly discussing with employers, as well as not properly assessing their abilities to negotiate suitable renumeration. However, in reality, once you have found a suitable job, salary negotiation is a decisive part of your job application process. Through his experience of getting a compensation that matches his experience and capability, Mr. Huy Hoang helped BUV students better understand how to evaluate themselves and effective methods for salary negotiation during the application process. 

On the second day of the job fair on October 1, businesses across many fields, such as Hospitality (JW Marriott, InterContinental), Technology (VNG, Gameloft, Appota), Communication and Marketing (T&A Ogilvy), and E-commerce (Shopee) participated in consulting and talking with BUV students on the Virtual Career Fair platform. BUV students had the opportunity to listen to advice, apply for jobs, and participate in direct interviews with leading employers in different industries, thereby better understanding the labor market and available job opportunities and equipping themselves with the necessary elements to be ready for the upcoming career path. 

As one of many businesses presented at the event’s job booths, Shopee – one of the e-commerce platforms with the largest market share in Asia, shared their impressions of BUV students: “BUV students are actively asking for career information. Although they are primarily freshmen and sophomores, their willingness to explore career opportunities is strong”  Mrs. Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director – North Vietnam, Ascott International Management Vietnam shared: “”The Virtual Fair was very well organized by BUV and the team. Throughout the process, we received prompt communication and support from the BUV team. The fair is a success, and we are very honored to be invited and to partner with BUV for this event.” 

Mrs. Vu Tra My, representative of the organizing committee and Team Leader of the Career Services and Alumni Relations, shared: “2021 is a challenging year for both employers and job seekers in the labour market. BUV Student Experience hosted the BUV Online Career Fair with the presence of 36 employers in several industries and 3 side events, including Effective Job Search Strategies, Effective Salary Negotiation Workshop, and a Careers in Real Estate talk. The Career Fair was not only about seeing employers to get a job, but also updating labor market knowledge, enhancing career readiness skills, and learning about managing expectations when entering the market. As an educator and the connection between employers and students, it’s our honour to create such a great virtual opportunity for them to network, actively reach out to each other, and become a meaningful part of the new normal. “ 

Industry businesses and employers participate in this event. 

Even though it was held while social distancing measures were in effect due to COVID-19, BUV Online Career Fair 2021 was successful thanks to the application of an online event organization platform, enabling BUV students to experience this virtual space from the comfort of their homes, and gather useful knowledge and skills necessary for conquering new opportunities in their career paths. This event, one of the typical activities in the Personal Development Program for students, is integrated into the curriculum to support students’ comprehensive development, including knowledge and professional work skills. 

For more information on career orientation in BUV, please visit BUV Career Services.