The VSE Career Centre will hold its seventh annual edition of the Bachelor of International Economics (BIE) Career Discovery and Networking Event on March 7th, 2023 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Attending the event is ideal for building professional connections and networks, discovering and refining your job interests, and exploring opportunities. Sign up for the event here !
BIE alumni are known to pursue a variety of career paths post graduation. If you’re a first to fourth year BIE student or a soon-to-be graduate and are curious about the multitude of opportunities available to you, or seeking to narrow down your field of interest, the diverse panel of recruiters, alumni, and industry professionals scheduled to participate this year provides an excellent opportunity to directly engage with individuals from some of Canada’s largest private and public organizations and beyond. This year’s guest list comprises of organizations such as Navius Research, BC Hydro, Government of British Columbia, University of Chicago Booth School of Business, BCIT, World Bank, CARE International, GeoComply, Accenture, Thumbtack, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Deloitte, PWC, KPMG, Powerex, Fierra Capital, Fidelity, Association of Family Offices in Asia, Nestle, ATAC Law Corporation, and Mercer.
By interacting with alumni, employers and other professional representatives, you can explore and find potential opportunities, and during the panel discussions on consulting, technology, research, finance, development, and other relevant fields, you can acquire valuable insights and ask questions. Prior to the start of the event, you will receive a list of partners who are partaking in the panels, as well as those present in the networking rooms who are willing to engage in conversation with you. This list may vary depending on your academic year, so we recommend you to identify the organizations you are interested in and make the most of your time networking with them. We will provide you with a schedule the day prior with the list of speakers for all the panels and networking rooms to help you plan and prepare.
We spoke to upper-year students to provide answers to some commonly asked questions about the event. They touched upon the differences between upper years’ vs first and second years’ experiences. Anagha, a third-year student, also mentioned that the exclusivity to the BIE cohort was comforting for many attending students, who felt at home and much more confident talking alongside their peers who had similar questions and experiences. The presence of BIE alumni who are familiar with our program also paved way for successful connections and openness alongside insightful advice from the discussions.
As the event is being conducted on Zoom, being proficient with the platform can alleviate any technical difficulties that may impede your participation during the event. The VSE Career Centre will provide an instructional guide on how to use Zoom for professional networking on a virtual platform, which is certainly worth reviewing!
As the big night approaches, it is a good idea to prepare yourself to ensure that you are as ready as possible. It’s never a bad idea to do some research on the partners attending, especially in your fields of interest and have questions prepared. This can help build your confidence and help you stand out.
Remember to submit your bio and headshot as this will be added into the student booklet provided to the partners. Don’t forget to polish your resume! Furthermore, it’s essential to rehearse your introduction or elevator pitch to leave a lasting impact on the individuals you interact with. Ultimately, your success depends on how you portray yourself and the effort you make to maximize the opportunities that come your way.
We highly recommend you to either create and/or continue to update your presence on LinkedIn, as it is an ideal platform for making professional connections. It is great for follow-up communications after the event. Many students end up making lasting connections with employers and recruiters after the event. Additional tips on making a good impression when networking on a virtual platform: keep your camera on whenever possible, maintain eye contact, and acknowledge the speakers by actively listening!
If you need help preparing for this event, you can review your resume and elevator pitch by booking a session with a VSE Career Centre Peer Coach or attending their drop-in hours. Peer coaches will also be available during the event to assist you if you are nervous or have any questions. The applications course offered by the Career Centre is definitely worth exploring for all sorts of tips on resumes, including templates and writing styles.
We look forward to seeing you all on March 7th for the BIE Career Discovery and Networking Event 2023. Sign up by following this link !
Written by Alaina Rara, Arthur Ruas Fagundes and Kai van Loon – The VSE Career Centre Blog Team