More than 40 companies and organisations descended on the Jakes Gerwel Hall to woo students at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on 25 and 26 July as part of the annual Career Xpo events organised by UWC Career Services. The Career Xpo allows students to engage with company representatives and UWC alumni to enquire about graduate opportunities.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support, Professor Matete Madiba, welcomed exhibitors and expressed her appreciation for their choice to spend time with students from the University’s seven faculties. Representatives from companies such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), the State Information Technology Agency SOC Ltd (SITA), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), The Foschini Group (TFG), and the university’s very own Research and Development Division for Postgraduate Studies attended the event.
Many UWC alumni attended to represent their employers. Brandon Wenn and Aliyah Richards, employed as junior analysts at KPMG, shared their job search experiences. They encouraged students to use UWC Career Services and resources on the Career Xplora portal to prepare for the rigours and realities of job hunting. UWC alumnus, Maphelo Batyi, who is the current HR Graduate Partner at Global Games, reached out to UWC Career Services earlier this year to ensure his employer signs up to attend the event. Batyi and his colleagues were pleased with the student turnout and engagement at the event.
Manager of Career Services and organiser of the Career Xpo, Nazrana Parker, said: “The 2023 Career Xpo Week was a great success as it bears testament to UWC being a campus of choice for many recruiters of young talent. Over 120 companies and organisations registered to attend the five-day event (planned for May and some rescheduled for July), and more than 4500 students attended. This is our highest number ever since the launch of Career Xpo Day in 2003. The lockdown and ‘screen fatigued’ affected graduate recruitment activities across universities in the country, but UWC Career Services has bounced back with a bumper year of activities and engagements. It has not been rated as one of the Top Career Services / Career Fairs since 2013 by the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) without good cause. Both students and recruiters value the services offered by the department to ensure quality engagement and increased graduate applications.”
Uyanda Vela, who is currently doing her postgraduate studies in African Linguistics, always looks forward to the Career Xpo. “I know that there are a bunch of companies that we are exposed to. It is a great time to find out more about the companies and make more connections. I would truly encourage every student, both undergraduate and postgraduates, to attend.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support, Professor Matete Madiba, welcomed exhibitors and expressed her appreciation for their choice to spend time with students from the University’s seven faculties. Representatives from companies such as PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), the State Information Technology Agency SOC Ltd (SITA), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), The Foschini Group (TFG), and the university’s very own Research and Development Division for Postgraduate Studies attended the event. Many UWC alumni attended to represent their employers. Brandon Wenn and Aliyah Richards, employed as junior analysts at KPMG, shared their job search experiences. They encouraged students to use UWC Career Services and resources on the Career Xplora portal to prepare for the rigours and realities of job hunting. UWC alumnus, Maphelo Batyi, who is the current HR Graduate Partner at Global Games, reached out to UWC Career Services earlier this year to ensure his employer signs up to attend the event. Batyi and his colleagues were pleased with the student turnout and engagement at the event.
Manager of Career Services and organiser of the Career Xpo, Nazrana Parker, said: “The 2023 Career Xpo Week was a great success as it bears testament to UWC being a campus of choice for many recruiters of young talent. Over 120 companies and organisations registered to attend the five-day event (planned for May and some rescheduled for July), and more than 4500 students attended. This is our highest number ever since the launch of Career Xpo Day in 2003. The lockdown and ‘screen fatigued’ affected graduate recruitment activities across universities in the country, but UWC Career Services has bounced back with a bumper year of activities and engagements. It has not been rated as one of the Top Career Services / Career Fairs since 2013 by the South African Graduate Employers Association (SAGEA) without good cause. Both students and recruiters value the services offered by the department to ensure quality engagement and increased graduate applications.” Uyanda Vela, who is currently doing her postgraduate studies in African Linguistics, always looks forward to the Career Xpo. “I know that there are a bunch of companies that we are exposed to. It is a great time to find out more about the companies and make more connections. I would truly encourage every student, both undergraduate and postgraduates, to attend.”
Tips to students and recent alumni:
- Watch the UWC Career Xplora portal for announcements of our next events. Better yet, set your major on the UWC Career Xplora portal and receive a bi-monthly events newsletter featuring our upcoming recruitment events, job search preparation workshops, and weekly discipline-specific blast emailers highlighting opportunities available to you.
- Remember that if you are a final year or postgraduate student, you must not leave your job search until after your final exams, nor wait until after graduation. Commence your job search now. Most opportunities listed on the UWC Career Xplora Job Board require you to apply this year! As long as you pass your final exam and can graduate – you can enter the world of work as a graduate in 2024.
- UWC Career Xplora saw more than 50 000 student log-ins in 2021 and 2022. Were you one of them? If not, remember: UWC Career Xplora provides you, the UWC student, with digital access to all campus career service activities and resources, 24/7/365, and for three additional years post completing your studies. Access it now.
