Business Industry Networking Evening

Around 45 business students met with potential employers at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Business Industry Networking Evening on Thursday 2 August 2007.

The evening was designed to introduce business students to the local corporate community and give them an opportunity to meet potential employers and develop valuable networking skills.

Guest speaker, Brett Dalton from Professional Investment Services said the event was a great opportunity for students but for employers.

'What we are looking to do is act as a conduit between learning through unis and learning in the real world and start to get these wheels in motion,' Mr Dalton said.

'Uni graduates are starting to get relationship and personable skills so that when they graduate and enter into the market they are a much better prospect for employers.'

Commerce student Justin Holman said the night was a good opportunity to get his name out to potential employers.

'I'm really trying to get a foot in the door,' Mr Holman said.

'At the moment I'm working full time in another industry but I want to get into employment that relates back to what I've studied.'

Faculty of Business Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor (Institutional Partnerships) Allan Layton said networking events were essential for the University to support students and the local community.

'I so strongly believe in these types of events,' Professor Layton said.

'It is so important to get the organisations into the campus to meet students and let them know what the world of work is like, the things they can expect and what is expected of them.'

Kent Gripske from Carrick Ashmeade said the evening provided local businesses an opportunity to see the students coming through USQ.

'I'm after someone who's looking to learn and doesn't mind to get in and do a bit of everything.

'We're not looking for someone with all the answers but someone who is willing to learn them.'

The event was a pilot organised by Student Services Graduate Transition Consultant Katrina Vagg. A similar event will be organised for Faculty of Education students later this year.