Window shopping for jobs

Opportunities: The Careers Service hosted career fairs that allowed students and prospective employers to network.

Networking was all the rage when students rubbed shoulders with prospective employers at UCT's annual Career Fairs in August.

Hosted by the Careers Service (CS), the general and specialised fairs (one in law and the other in accounting) attracted some 128 companies.

According to Cathy Sims, acting CDP director, the events were the culmination of a year-long calendar of talks, workshops, individual career advisory sessions and mock interviews designed to help students start discussions with the world of work.

"This is a great opportunity not only for companies to scout for talent, but also for students to sample and research different employment prospects, and to find out more about the graduate labour market," Sims explains.

Sims says students responded positively to the fairs, which may explain why UCT was recently voted as the best career service, and its career fairs named as the best in South Africa, by 75 of the most influential graduate employers.

CS section offers advisory, opportunity and information services to students, school learners and even alumni.