Scottish Graduate Fair How to register

Looking for work experience? Many exhibitors offer internships, placements or Insight Days, including increasing numbers target at first and second years. They are really keen to attract early years students to apply for them.

Taking up these opportunities enhance your CV, gives you an insight into an organisation and helps you decide if you want to join them after graduation. Competition for places is strong so:

• check out the exhibitors’ websites and the opportunities on your Careers Service website
• know what you want and what you can offer
• introduce yourself positively and ask sensible questions
• attend employer presentations, networking events and other campus events

The Fair is a great opportunity to plan ahead in your job search. Use the event to:

• learn how many vacancies do NOT require specific degree disciplines but are open to all
• talk directly to employers to get an insight into their organisation and selection criteria, discovering more than you can get from their website
• get advice from the experts on how to improve your jobs search techniques
• meet representatives of several universities to find out about further study

At this early stage in the year, employers will not be interviewing you for their vacancies (that comes later in the selection procedure), but research done now will save you time and effort later. It also allows you to refer to information picked up at the Fair in any future interview, demonstrating you have properly researched the company.

Your Careers Service is in regular contact with a wide range of employers. Check with them for other first
semester activities which they might be organising to help you plan ahead:

• attend employer presentations on campus
• go to relevant careers information events/fairs
• access the thousands of vacancies on your University’s Careers Service Website

To get the most out of the Fair, you need to be organised and well prepared. Be realistic. No matter how brilliant you are, no-one is going to offer you a job on the spot. Organisations use the Fair to raise their profile and identify suitable candidates for their vacancies. Those that impress may receive invitations to attend follow up recruitment events with individual employers. To make the right impression, you should:

• be clear what type of work you are looking for and why you would be good at it
• use this brochure to find out which employers have relevant vacancies
• research the employers that interest you BEFORE attending the Fair, so you can impress them with your awareness; use your University Careers Service website, employer websites and brochures
• ask questions about information you can’t find on their website

The Fair will be busy so you will only have a short time to make an impact. Asking vague questions or being unclear about your career interests will not entice employers to hire you.

You can take copies of your CV if it is impressive, to give to employers, but be aware that most recruitment is online. So concentrate on impressing exhibitors with your  knowledge of their company and your enthusiasm for their opportunities. Show them why they shouldn’t forget you!

Travelling to the Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC), University of Strathclyde Campus – Google maps.

By train

The closest train stations to the campus are:

• National services:
  • Queen Street (0.4 miles)
  • Glasgow Central (0.9 miles)
• Local services:
  • High Street (0.1 miles)
  • Queen Street (0.4 miles)
  • Argyle Street (0.6 miles)
  • Glasgow Central (0.9 miles)
• SPT Subway:
  • Buchanan Street (0.4 miles)

By car

The nearest car parks are just a short walk away from the Technology and Innovation Centre:

• George Street Car Park, G1 1RS (0.2 miles)
• 24hr City Parking, Duke Street, G4 0UW (0.3 miles)

By bus

Buchanan Bus Station is 0.6 miles away and runs frequent services to Glasgow International Airport and all parts of the country.