(Pictures: Roger Farias)
Fanshawe students and alumni gathered at the Career Opportunities Fair on Wednesday to connect with employers and seek job opportunities. Many emphasized the importance of networking with recruiters and exploring companies they hadn’t considered.
Teena George, a business program student, found the job fair to be a valuable opportunity to learn about the London job market. “Since I came to Canada, I have been working part-time in a restaurant, and those kinds of jobs are easy to get. Full-time jobs are harder to find due to the need for specific expertise and certifications. I’m looking for engineering or manufacturing positions because I have experience in this field. This fair really helped. I need to wait until I finish my studies because here all are full-time jobs so other than restaurant jobs, right now it’s difficult to find white-collar jobs,” she said.
Similarly, Daniel Faris, described the event as great, well-organized, and busy. “I’m a business – marketing student, so I’ve been going around trying to sell myself to tables. They were friendly, handing out pamphlets and giving me ways to contact them, which made it feel easier to connect with companies. I’ve noticed it is mostly police, construction, and accounting businesses,” he said.
Chayan Kumar, a construction project management student, highlighted the unique advantages of attending in-person career fairs compared to searching for jobs online. “These job fairs are most beneficial for roles you might not even find on your own,” Kumar said. “If you apply online, your resume can go through the ATS (Applicant Tracking System), and a lot of times, you don’t hear back. Here, you can speak directly to recruiters, which gives you a much better chance of being hired,” he added. Kumar is seeking full-time positions.
In contrast, Sneha Sunil is a recent graduate in geographic information systems (GIS). Currently on a four-month break before resuming her studies in January, Sunil is actively seeking full-time employment. “I was a civil engineer back in India. I have three years of experience and I’m looking for a civil engineering job as well. I couldn’t find any job till now but I talked to a few of the companies and they are willing to take me in the coming spring because they are not hiring at the moment.” She said the job fair is a great opportunity to drop off resumes and find out about when companies are planning to hire.
Esha Shakya, a health system management student who is currently employed, is looking for a part-time job in hospital administration. She found the fair to be an effective way to gather leads on potential job openings. I took a picture of some QR codes (Quick-response codes); I’m going to scan them at home and apply to a few of the jobs that I find interesting,” Shakya said. She added that the fair was a great opportunity to learn more about the specific requirements they’re looking for in candidates.
Lastly, Angel Rana, an office administration – health services student, is still in the process of evaluating her career options, and she found the event helpful in gaining insight into what the job market holds. “I’m just exploring the area and figuring out what my career might be,” Rana said. “Right now, I’m focused on finding a part-time job because I’m new here, but eventually, I hope to secure a full-time position.”
The Fanshawe College Career Opportunities Fair is held twice a year. By visiting the My Fanshawe portal, attendees can explore participating organizations and available positions ahead of time. The next job fair is scheduled for March 2025.
