Annual Career and Internship Fair- 2019

The Career Services Center at the University of Balamand (UOB) is organizing its annual “Career and Internship Fair - Find your Hire”, on Tuesday April 9, 2019 on Koura Campus, North Lebanon.

The Fair aims to provide a unique networking forum in whereas University students, Alumni and visitors get the chance to meet with representatives from around 60 multinational firms and discuss further career and internship opportunities in Lebanon and abroad.

Reasons to attend the Career and Internship Fair

• - Learn about the job market and what opportunities are available
• - Learn about yourself and the sort of job that interests you
• - Establish contacts with companies that can offer jobs and internships
• - Get feedback on your CV
• - Get feedback on your area of interest

What happens during the Career and Internship Fair?

• - You can interact on one-to-one basis with company representatives from a wide range of industries, including banking, engineering, telecom, oil and gas, advertising, consumer goods, construction, airlines, medical and pharmaceutical, and others.
• - You can enquire about the types of job available in each organization.
• - Company representatives may ask you about your major and your career interests.
• - Company representatives may be from the upper management level or UOB alumni. You can learn from their experience.
• - It is very seldom that you receive a job offer on the same day of the Fair.

What to do before the Career and Internship Fair?

• - Prepare your CV and a strong cover letter and bring with you multiple copies.
• - Get a list of companies attending and identify those you wish to talk to.
• - Practice introducing yourself to company representatives that you may meet at the Fair.
  
  As part of your personal introduction, you should:
  
  1. Introduce yourself and offer a handshake.
  2. Give a brief summary of your education and experience.
  3. Tell the employer why you are attending the Fair and what sort of employment you are seeking.
  4. Be prompt and precise in your answers to the company representatives’ questions.
  5. Prepare a list of questions but:
     1. Avoid questions about salary and benefits during the first meeting.
     2. Avoid questions about working hours (e.g., does the company work after 5:00 p.m. or on Saturdays).
     3. Do not ask for free gadgets unless they offer you some.

What to do on the day of the Career and Internship Fair?

• - Look professional (you are not expected to wear a suit but do not come in shorts, jeans, flip-flops, etc.).
• - Introduce yourself, using the personal introduction you prepared earlier.
• - Ask your most important questions.
• - Take notes of the key points and any follow-up actions required.
• - Ask for a business card from the company representatives. If they don’t have one, note down their name and contact details.
• - Give them your business card, if you have produced one (as a current student, you are not expected to have one).
• - Avoid walking around in a large group, so that you have the opportunity to speak with the company representatives one-to-one.
• - Make sure your mobile is on silent mode.

What to do after the Career and Internship Fair?

• - Review the information you have gathered, including notes from the personal conversations with company representatives.
• - Reflect on key questions that you should ask yourself after the Fair such as:
  
  1. What type of job interested you the most?
  2. Which company representatives attracted you the most and why (e.g., is it their working habits, location, size, type of work)?
  3. What other important items are necessary to prepare yourself for the job market?
     
• - Follow up with the companies that you spoke to. You may want to send them an email thanking them for their time during the Fair and reminding them about your goals.

Participating Entities: