IN BRIEF | 10 min read

• Organised by the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG), the NUS Career Fest 2023 shone a special spotlight on the sustainability sector with a number of targeted activities aimed at deepening students’ understanding of sustainability and sustainability-related careers.

A palpable buzz of excitement was generated at the University Sports Centre and Multipurpose Sports Halls on 10 February as thousands of enthusiastic NUS undergraduate and postgraduate students streamed into the venues hosting the NUS Career Fest 2023 The event offered valuable opportunities for them to network with more than 1,200 employer representatives from 300 companies, and score one of the 14,000 full-time roles and internships available.

Green Light for the Green Sector
Organised by the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG), the NUS Career Fest 2023 shone a special spotlight on the sustainability sector −  a fast-growing emerging industry sector − with a number of targeted activities aimed at deepening students’ understanding of sustainability and sustainability-related careers as well as providing opportunities for interested students to engage with industry experts.

These activities included the inaugural session of the CFG Industry Green Room (IGR) – a series of industry engagement events co-created with student groups specifically to provide students with greater exposure to the sector. Developed in partnership with the Bachelor of Environmental Studies’ (BES) Student Committee, this first session of IGR saw students actively engage with industry thought leaders from across diverse fields of sustainability.

Students could also express their interest in green careers by submitting their resumes via the NUS Career Fest 2023 Green Book on the NUS career+ app, with these resumes then provided to all participating employers with sustainability-related opportunities.

Employers responded enthusiastically to the call, with more than 100 participating employers collectively putting up more than 800 sustainability-related jobs or internships openings.

NUS Career Fest 2023 kicked off with an opening ceremony graced by Senior Vice Provost (Undergraduate Education) Professor Bernard Tan, and was attended by numerous industry leaders, NUS senior management and students.

“NUS students have continued to enjoy strong graduate outcomes, bearing testament to the efforts the University has made. Our focus on interdisciplinary learning equips students with the foundational and functional skills required to harness exciting emerging opportunities,” Prof Tan shared.

“At the same time, through a structured career preparation roadmap that includes events like NUS Career Fest 2023 and exciting digital platforms such as Internship-As-A-Service (IAAS) and conNectUS, we provide numerous opportunities for students to be exposed to industry and to amass professional working experience,” he added.

Poised and Prepared for the Working World
On top of career opportunities and networking, the Career Fest also prepared students for their first jobs in practical ways. At the Styled for Success zone, students both gleaned professional grooming tips and work wardrobe advice, and received complimentary headshot photographs. Students also enjoyed interactive career exhibits from Young NTUC, and visited the CFG Career Pitstop to receive instant resume critiques and practise their mock interviews with CFG Career Advisors.

Students needing an energy boost could even sip on an artisanal coffee brewed by a robot barista, and sample sustainable granola made from spent brewers’ grains – with compliments from Moonbeam Co, a start-up founded by a trio of NUS alumni and students.

The opportunity to engage with diverse employers in a single day was very fruitful for students. Year 2 NUS Economics undergraduate Sunny Ren, who attended the Career Fest with course mate Bebin Joseph, shared that their experience at the Career Fest went beyond just seeking to secure an internship role.

“Being able to speak with employers helped me to learn about different industries, and offered me broader horizons and new ways of looking at industries that I may be interested in,” he shared. “The people here were helpful and approachable, and enthusiastic to share about the work they do every day, which goes beyond what I can find out from a website or an academic module.”

Employers also rose to the occasion to engage with enthusiastic NUS students. “We were thrilled to be back here in person at NUS Career Fest after three years,” enthused Mr Daniel Loo, Senior Manager of Talent Acquisition at Changi Airport Group.

“As with previous editions, we found the event extremely well-organised, and students we met were intelligent, diverse and actively engaged in seeking both internship and career opportunities with us. CFG, the organiser, had also been truly collaborative and did a wonderful job promoting the fair to the NUS community. I would highly recommend participation for other companies looking to expand their network of talent,” he shared.

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This story by the NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG) first appeared on NUSnews on 16 February 2023.