Students to meet with employers at networking evening

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Business faculty students will have the opportunity to meet potential employers at an Industry Networking Evening on Thursday 2 August 2007.

Organised by Graduate Transition Consultant, Katrina Vagg, the evening is designed to teach students the skills of networking, communication and professionalism.

'We have 25 representatives from 10 different companies coming along,' Mrs Vagg said.

'The majority are local companies. We are really trying to engage with local businesses and help them meet the demand for graduates.'

Professional Investment Services will address guests as the major sponsor of the evening.

'Professional Investment Services will be conducting the corporate presentation for the evening, speaking to students about their company and the essential employability skills required of all students looking to succeed in the business industry,' she said.

ANZ, National Australia Bank, Heritage Building Society, Power Tynan, Trojan Workforce and Fowler Board will also be represented at the event.

The evening will offer a smaller and more intimate experience for students and employers than the career fair in semester one, Mrs Vagg said.

'The biggest career event we hold is the Graduate Careers Expo earlier in the year, but this event will be a key opportunity for second and third year students to start making links with employers before their final year.

'While we are taking a different approach from the career fair, the networking event will allow employers and students to meet and will teach students valuable networking and employability skills.'

The evening will also allow companies to look at filling the demand for graduates, cadets, scholarships and vacation program places Mrs Vagg said.

'A lot of companies are looking at recruiting for vacation programs around this time so it will be a good opportunity for them to meet students.'

The business networking evening will be the first of its kind for USQ but should eventually be run separately for each faculty, Mrs Vagg said.

'We are piloting the event with Business faculty students. Our intention is to have one for each faculty once it has been initiated and is successful.

'We are having an Education faculty event which will be sponsored by Education Queensland later this month.'

The evening runs from 6pm to 8pm in the Allison Dickson Lecture Theatre.

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559