CAIRO: Two large white tents were pitched at the American University in Cairo (AUC) Sunday as hundreds of students crowded around tables for information about employment opportunities and career advice.
“We attempt to open students’ options so that they don’t graduate with only one idea [one career option] before them, said Dalia Awad, advisor at AUC s CareerAdvising and Placement Services (Caps).
Career Mart is organized every year by the Caps office to provide AUC students a chance to meet professionals in their fields of interest such as marketing, journalism, finance, psychology or chemistry.
Awad told The Daily Star Egypt that they offer students the chance to meet up with top notch professionals whom they normally would not have a chance to meet.
Students can ask about career paths, courses, choices of major, job and internship opportunities or simply about the job market itself.
“I wanted to know about my career options, said Alya Kebiri, an AUC economics senior. Other students had enquiries about internships or job opportunities.
Safaa Abdoun, journalism senior attended in hopes of landing an internship with Al- Ahram Weekly. I worked for the AUC Caravan for a year and a half, interned at The Daily Star Edgyp, and now I m interested in writing for Al-Ahram Weekly.
A representative from Al-Ahram Weekly advised Abdoun to specialize in a specific field of journalism for three or four years and then apply as a candidate in that field.
“For example, she said, “if you enjoy writing about politics make that your niche and stick with it for the rest of your career.
Layla Sabry, an electronics engineering senior thought that last year’s Career Mart was better. “The [electronics] company that came last year and its career advising was more interesting, said Sabry.
Some students were disappointed not to find people from the arts field.
“Why should I attend if they don t appeal to students like me given the fact that the career opportunities I d be interested in aren t even offered, said Zena Sallam, an AUC art major.
Awad said that although there wasn’t an art booth, there were many professionals related to that field and this was the purpose of the event: to open students up to new options in different fields.
