What is it about?

We investigated whether it is possible to support students in their careers through large events where students take part in several short interviews with employers offering internship positions. Our findings suggested that these events offer value to students regardless of whether they gain an internship positions. Students became significantly more confident that they would achieve their career goals after taking part in the event. They also reported that the information and connections that they gained from the event were valuable and they were able to describe ways of using these to support their career goals. These positive findings are important because the events provide a low-stakes environment where large numbers of students can meet with employers and gain career-relevant experience, information and connections through participating in short interviews with them.

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Why is it important?

Career choices are still very much influenced by family and friend networks which reinforces existing social inequalities. This study suggests that large scale events where students get to take part in mini-job interviews with multiple employers gives them a better understanding of the career options and ways of achieving their career goals. Long term research is needed to determine whether it can help to open up a wider range of career pathways to students.

Perspectives

I grew up in a jobless household and had little understanding of my career choices and the value of the skills and knowledge that I was gaining from my studies. A low-stakes environment such as these events would have been useful in enabling me to put my toe into the water and gain a sense of the range of opportunities available to me.

Claire Mason
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Supporting students' employability through structured, event-based engagement with employers, Education + Training, July 2022, Emerald,
DOI: 10.1108/et-04-2021-0145.
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