You may or may not be aware that next week, on campus,  we host The Autumn Graduate and Placement Fair – the University’s flagship careers event and the biggest university careers fair in the UK, attracting over 6000 students and 200 organisations.

The companies attending are high profile organisations and over 35 are listed in this year’s Times Top 100 Graduate Employers.

Often it is assumed that careers fairs like this are intended for second years and finalists, looking for placements or graduate jobs; but this isn’t the case. Regardless of your circumstances, by attending this fair you will be taking a step in the right direction towards developing your career. The companies attending represent a wide variety of sectors and many recruit from all subject disciplines. This two day event gives Loughborough students the unique and invaluable opportunity to;

Network face-to-face with some of the leading UK employers

As one of the largest careers fair in the UK we have over 200 organisations attending, over 35 of which are listed in this year’s Times Top 100 Graduate Employers.

Speaking directly to employers will give you the opportunity to learn more about the career paths open to you and the experience you are likely to gain from a placement year.

Secure valuable experience over summer

Most large companies now offer something for first year students, including internships over the vacation or a taster day.  So not only will you be able to gauge what roles you like, but it might also help to secure a placement role later on.  Also any work experience you gain is excellent for your CV.

Learn more about placement, internship and graduate opportunities

The fair is a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the placement, internships and graduate opportunities for your chosen area of interest. Plus, if you are looking for a placement at the end of their second year, you can actually start applying at the end of first year as a lot of the big organisations open up their recruitment over the summer vacation.

Speak to recent graduates or students currently on a placement year

Yet another great reason to attend is the opportunity to speak directly with recent graduates or students who are currently on a placement year; giving you a real insight into what you can expect when you go on a placement year.

Whether you’ve got your heart set on a placement year and want to start networking and making those connections or you’re still undecided about whether a placement is right for you and you want to speak to people who’ve been in your position, the Graduate Recruitment and Placement Fair is the perfect opportunity to start taking those first steps into your future career path.

When is it?

The fair is happening on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th October, from 2pm-7pm and 11am-4pm respectively, in the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall. You can find more information as well as exhibitor lists and floor plans here, and you can download the Graduate Recruitment and Placement Fair brochure by clicking here.