What exactly is a “career event”?

Career event, job fair, career orientation event—there are many different terms. These are events where you can learn about career prospects, meet potential employers, gain insights, and network. The format and program focus vary widely.

As the University of Vienna’s Career Service, we host various career events every year, such as The Long Night of Companies, Career Profile Day, JobTalks, and Jussuccess. Some companies also organize their own career events. In some cases, you’ll need to apply by submitting a resume.

How do I find the right event?

Think about what you hope to achieve by attending a career event. Depending on your goals, different events may be the right fit for you. Are you looking to explore different career paths, or do you want to learn more about a specific company?

In the first case, Career Profile Day is a good option. There, you can listen to live interviews with professionals and talk with them afterward. The “Long Night of Companies” would be a better fit for the second scenario. There, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a company of your choice directly.

→ You can find more tips on networking in these blog posts, “How to Feel More Confident When Networking” and “How Does Networking Work?”, as well as in this podcast episode.

Here’s how to prepare!

Plan what you want to wear a few days in advance so your outfit is definitely ready. Business casual is best—not too casual, but not a suit either.

For panel discussions, it’s worth arriving a little early to snag a good seat. If it’s a larger career fair with various program items, you should get an overview in advance of what you don’t want to miss.

To make the most of your visit to the career event, jot down questions in advance that you’d like to answer for yourself or ask someone there. Here are a few examples:

Questions for yourself:

• Which potential employers do I find appealing?
• What new insights and perspectives can I gain?
• With whom do I have pleasant and interesting conversations?

Questions you can ask:

• Are there opportunities for internships?
• What are the entry-level opportunities for students?
• What skills are in demand at the company?
• What is a typical workday like?

Author: Valerie Lechner