This past weekend saw companies set up camp at the UoN grounds for the AIESEC Kenya career fair. More than 2000 students at the fair got to learn about job opportunities, graduate programs, internships and requirements of different private and public companies that were at the career expo.
The event was held in collaboration with several corporations including Safaricom, Price Water House Coopers (PWC), InterConsumer Products and Kenya Maritime Authority. There were also several other exhibitors showcasing their products and opportunities available.
Some companies also held sessions where they provided students with valuable career advice and guidelines on how they could secure jobs in some of the blue chip companies represented at the fair.
AIESEC Kenya National President, Raquel Lorente said the fair was organized to link students and companies, allowing students to know the opportunities available for them.
“AIESEC runs an international internship program and we used to the fair to promote it,” adds Raquel.
In spite of the short time to organize the fair, and numerous challenges including securing a good venue, sponsors and exhibitors, Raquel and her team were able to pull off the fair successfully.
“Students were proactive and a big number attended the stands and seminars. The feedback that we have received has been really positive, from both students and participating companies,” says Raquel.
Paul King’ori from Nation Media Group (NMG) said the media group is creating awareness on what the company does. He said that many students believe NMG was all about newspapers, radio and television but that is not all.
“The career opportunities available are diverse and they are not all centered on journalism like many students believe. Several departments like I.T, human resource, finance, sales also need professionals and that is where other career paths got in,” said Paul.
Graduate programs
East Africa Breweries has an early career programme which gives graduates broad experience that will not only create first-hand work place knowledge, but also act as a launching pad for career development.
The programme combines practical, on-the-job training with theoretical learning where one is bound to gain all the skills, knowledge and experience needed. Early career programme also focuses on leadership expertise.
“It requires one to complete either one or two 12-18 month role rotations within that function” said EABL’s Angela Migiro.
The programme is open to all students in a wide variety of courses as long as one has the passion for sales. Application is online and this year it is running from June 1st to July 31st.
The career fair, which was the second such fair to be organised by AIESEC, also attracted newer companies keen on tapping fresh talent from Universities.
Online profiles for students
Dealfish, an online platform for advertisers, showcased an online service that allows students and graduates to build an online profile, making it easier for potential employers to find them.
Dealfish collaborates with recruitment firms and professional bodies such as Institute of Human Resource Management to update available jobs in real-time. Apart from advertising jobs, dealfish is an online marketplace where consumers can shop for products and services. It acts as a link between the buyer and the seller and has over 80,000 visitors per a day and over 2.5 million visitors in a month.
One of the unique exhibitors was Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), a parastatal which regulates the maritime and shipping industry among many other areas in sea transport. The quasi-government body showcased opportunities available at KMA.
Michelle Wanga, a public relations officer said the Maritime Authority offers scholarships in addition to diverse range of jobs to students and graduates. Opportunities available include Maritime lawyers, pollution control, finance, human resource, rescue co-ordination, commercial shipping, marine engineering, public relations and environmental management.
Opportunities
Visitors of the AIESEC fair also got to learn about less-known companies that have available opportunities to students. Hashi Energy, a petroleum company with a presence in six Eastern African countries, has a management trainee programme that trains graduates while working as interns for the energy company. The programme runs for nine months after which one is employed in a department of choice. “It is open for students in any degree programme expect fashion design as long as they are willing to learn and have a passion for it” Says Felix Wasaba.
Students at the fair said their view about employment had widened as a result of the information they got.
“I am excited about the trainee programmes available at East Africa Breweries limited and Hashi energy, they are different and better than internship programmes offered by other organizations, I am definitely going to apply. I hope AIESEC will have more of this in the future as it is very beneficial to students,” said Moses Wafula, a third year student at University of Nairobi
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