Advice from Arup on engaging with industry at Careers Expos

As the Engineers Australia Careers Expos are in full swing this month, I though it best to hear from a HR Professional who attends these regularly.  Larissa Stevens is the Regional HR Consultant for Arup and she was kind enough to answer some questions for me; I hope you find this informative and it helps with the Careers Expos you attend this month.

1. What standard of dress do you expect students to have at careers expos?
   Casual clothes are fine by us.
    
2. What is the funniest / strangest question you have been asked?
   I’ve had 20 years’ experience as an Engineer, do you think I would be suitable for a Graduate Position?
    
3. How much information do you expect students to know about your company?
   You don’t need to be an Arup expert but knowing a little bit about what we do, and the projects we have worked on will mean you can ask questions about life at Arup and any specifics you may be interested in.
    
4. Where can students find out about your company?
   Our website, promotional material and from your uni lecturers.  You can also speak to us at a career fair or employer event.
    
5. What is the best time (for students) to arrive at the expo?
   Arrive early!  It gets really busy mid-way through and we are pretty tired at the end so get us while we are fresh.
    
6. How many expos is Arup attending (nationally) this year?
   Arup will be at 19 events this March.
    
7. How many jobs does Arup have?
   Our graduate opportunities are advertised on our website.  We advertise for Graduates in March/April and Vacation Students in July/August.
    
8. In how many locations are these positions?
   Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Perth, Singapore, Sydney
    
9. What is your recruitment process for vacation / graduate work?
   We have a short graduate process that involves an online application, psychometric testing, interview and offer. For Vacation, we don’t use psychometric testing.
    
10. What makes someone stand out at an expo?
    We like people who are themselves! You will stand out if you have thought about why you might like to work with Arup and are interested in having a discussion about what that might look like.
     
11. Any other tips for students attending Careers Expos?
    Plan your time at career fairs so you don’t miss any of your top employers. 

For more information about Careers Expos, please visit the website. If you have questions or need advice, please contact Jennifer O'Donovan via the contact details below.

Jennifer O'Donovan
Manager Career Development Centre
Engineers Australia
[email protected]