Here at RCL, we are committed to providing our students with comprehensive career support, which remains in place long after they graduate. Current students as well as alumni are regularly invited to access our career and employability events, workshops, and resources.
On Thursday 14th March 2024, RCL’s Graduate Outcome team held their first Careers & Job Fair of the year. The event was designed to be inclusive and supportive, and meet the different needs of our vibrant RCL community, which made it a great success.
RCL students and alumni were invited to our Holborn campus and connect with a diverse selection of employers and organisations, including HSBC, Ministry of Justice, and Ryanair. We were immensely proud to see our students and alumni engaging with the opportunities available, asking questions, keeping an open mind, and making the most of the day.
We’re incredibly grateful to the 20-plus employers who took the time to speak to our students and alumni, discuss opportunities, and share invaluable insights that will no doubt broaden their horizons and guide their career journeys moving forward.
We spoke to these employers and organisations to understand what they offer, the skills they’re looking for in potential candidates, and how their day at the Careers & Job Fair went for them.
Ministry of Justice
Representing the Ministry of Justice, Stanley was eager to discuss their new and pioneering social mobility programme with attendees. This programme is designed to promote greater socio-economic diversity and inclusivity across the department. In Stanley’s words, it’s about bringing “the government to the people” and more accurately “reflecting the communities” the MOJ serves.
Stanley adds that delivering an accessible and inclusive service to the community will be a key pillar of this programme. Therefore, he was looking for approachable individuals who demonstrate strong levels of humanity, compassion, and empathy.
Ryanair
Chloe, a recruiter from Cabin Crew International, said she was recruiting for the airline’s Stansted base and that prospective cabin crew members must be “flexible, friendly, motivated, and hardworking.”
Dan, a Ryanair Cabin Crew member, added that he really enjoyed speaking to the attendees: “I remember being in their exact same position not too long ago, and now I’m the one sharing my passion with them!”
Ballers Direct
Ashleigh from sales and marketing agency Ballers Direct said they were on site to offer entry-level opportunities, which could help students become more confident and enhance their CVs.
She believes that experience in sales can help people develop powerful negotiation and communication skills, which today’s employers value highly.
Ashleigh’s colleague Jade added that, regarding prospective recruits, they were ideally looking for people who are “super positive” with an entrepreneurial spirit and a “business-savvy mindset”.
Camden Council
Ellie from Camden Council said that hers is a “great organisation to work for” with many opportunities for progression. She adds that they actively moving away from siloed team structures and towards more multi-disciplinary work, so they are looking for people who are chatty and relational with a creative spark and fearless mindset.
Student Circus
We spoke to Sakshi from Student Circus, which is a job platform for international students who are looking for sponsored job opportunities in the UK – from internships to full-time jobs.
Sakshi described her experience at the fair as “amazing” because it enabled her to “interact with a lot of students”, plus she received some great feedback on Student Circus and its services.
Smart Works
Buki from Smart Works described how the UK-based charity supports women to get into employment through career coaching, interview preparation and free clothing for their interviews, so they can present themselves at their very best.
“The job search in London can be really demoralising,” says Buki, “We’re here to uplift women essentially.” Around 69% of the women who access support through Smart Works successfully land a job offer within a month, so the charity is already having a profound impact on society.
Meanwhile, Buki’s colleague Millicent described their day at the Careers & Job Fair as “fantastic”. “Everyone we spoke to – from students and alumni to the other businesses here today – was welcoming and they loved what Smart Work stands for.
