AUS students meet with industry leaders during Job Search Preparation Week

To prepare senior students and alumni for career opportunities in today's challenging job market, American University of Sharjah (AUS) held a three-day event of panel discussions, workshops and mock interviews involving industry leaders to build student confidence, hone their employability skills and increase their chances of success. 

Organized by the Career Services Office at the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA), the Job Search Preparation Week included panel discussions involving industry leaders on career discovery and professions in business, sciences, engineering and design by representatives of national and international corporations such as AECOM, KPMG, L'Oréal,Maersk, Mashreq Bank, Schulmberger, Talentprise and Veolia. 

Students and alumni received hands-on training in several workshops where they learned resume writing from AECOM, interview preparation and skills from Nestlé, and the creation of an online identity from L’Oréal. 

To help students put into practice the skills they gained throughout the week, 22 human resources professionals representing 13 companies held mock interviews with the students. Participating companies included Ecolab, General Electric, Hilti, L’Oréal, Lufthansa Technik, Mashreq Bank, Michael Page, Nestlé, Schneider, Transmed, Unilever, Veolia and WSP. 

Omar Hegazy, a computer engineering major who graduated in Spring 2022, said the Job Search Preparation Week proved to be an enriching experience as he learned more about how body language and tone of voice can influence performance on job interviews.

“There were many aspects in the job search and interviewing process that I learned to focus on. I gained something from every activity in the Job Search Preparation Week. Events like these give insights into what is going on in the different industries and help us understand what to expect as we prepare for our next phase of our lives and build our careers,” he said. 

Samreen Koruntevalappil, a finance graduate student, found the direct interaction with industry professionals educational. 

“We had the opportunity to listen to alumni success stories, which were inspirational. When we are beginning our careers, we often look up to people in the same field and seek their advice. This event offered us precisely that. Discussions on entering and advancing in the workforce and the face-to-face interactions were valuable,” she said. 

Koruntevalappil added: “Career placement is an important aspect students consider when they enroll in any university. Opportunities offered by AUS, such as the Job Search Preparation Week and many others, which provide opportunities for market entry and career advancement are the reasons why I chose AUS in the first place.” 

“Companies are looking for top-notch graduates who can add value to their companies. AUS graduates are well-prepared. They have the academic knowledge and the skills they gained from the vibrant university life on campus. Career Services aims to help students and alumni begin their careers. Such an event is important because it helps them build their career objectives and gives them an opportunity to interact directly with HR professionals. This is crucial to develop a professional network and possibly open the door to many opportunities including internships and job offers,” said Mohammed Otmani, Career Services Senior Manager at OAAA. 

Otmani added: “What makes the difference in today's job market is the degree of preparedness that the students have and how capable they are in articulating their aspirations to their future employers.”  

The Career Services Office in OAAA provides support, advice and guidance for current students and alumni to help them secure rewarding professional careers and internship opportunities. The office conducts preparatory programs, workshops, conferences, seminars and training courses that enhance a variety of skills including those required for interviews, employment contract negotiations, career planning and CV writing.

For more information on what Career Services has to offer, please click here.