Postgraduate students at Robert Gordon University (RGU) got the chance to learn more about employment opportunities once they complete their studies at an event this month.
More than 80 students from across the university attended a Postgraduate Employability Symposium (PES) in the Sir Ian Wood Building on Wednesday, December 2.
Organised by RGU’s Careers and Employability Centre and Alumni Team, the symposium was officially opened by the university’s Vice-Principal Shona Cormack.
The keynote speaker was CEO of Wood Group & RGU Honorary Graduate Bob Keiller who shared his thoughts and experiences on what it takes to become a successful graduate and employee in the work environment.
Ten major recruiters also attended the event, representing a broad spectrum of industrial and commercial sectors including oil and gas, construction, accountancy and finance, and science and pharmaceuticals.
More than a dozen graduates from the university, who are actively building their careers, attended the event to network with and speak to students about employability skills, their importance in the graduate recruitment process and in building successful careers as well as share their experiences of the workplace.
Employers shared information on how they define various employability skills and what they look for in terms of evidence of these skills from students and graduates throughout the recruitment and selection process.
RGU alumni also shared their experience of being recruited into graduate and professional roles by employers and how they were able to communicate their employability to the recruiters.
Will Ritchie, RGU’s Careers Consultant Team Leader, said: “The Postgraduate Employability Symposium was a significant opportunity for current students to connect with recruiters and a range of successful graduates.
“We hope the students will be more reflective source examples of where they can demonstrate employability skills which go hand in hand with their academic knowledge in presenting themselves to employers as capable, well rounded dynamic professionals able to hit the ground running in the modern workplace.”
Bob MacDonald, Chief Executive Officer at Wood Group Kenny, who is a graduate from RGU, met with many of the students who attended the event.
He said: “The Employment Symposium was an essential event to provide alignment between employers and the workforce of tomorrow. I was extremely encouraged to see the quality and enthusiasm which existed amongst the postgraduate student population.”
Claire Shaw, Head of Alumni Relations at RGU, said: “The event has been an incredible success and I’m very grateful for the valuable time our alumni have given to improve the employability of our postgraduate students.
“To be able to provide our alumni with the opportunity to give back to RGU in this way and to see the positive direct impact it has on our students is fantastic.
“This is a format we will definitely replicate in the future, which will enable as many students as possible to benefit from our alumni community’s wealth of knowledge and experience.”