Students at the careers fair on Jubilee Campus
By Katie Ryan, history student
On Wednesday 15 October, I attended the Management, Consulting, and Finance Careers Fair on Jubilee Campus.
I was nervous going to the fair, worried about talking to potentially ‘scary’ representatives, especially as a student who is less focussed on the finance side of things. However, I actually found the experience very rewarding and intriguing, and did not find myself to afraid to speak to the visiting companies about their opportunities.
What was the event like?
Many major companies attended the event such as Goldman Sachs, the Civil Service Fast Stream, EY, Wells Fargo, and more. They had all set up very approachable stalls (often with freebies!) which were run by friendly representatives who were there to offer information and an open conversation on the opportunities presented by their companies.
I found that speaking to employees offered a unique insight into each firm, as I heard personal experiences and anecdotes. For me, as a history undergraduate, it was particularly valuable to hear about the individuals or their colleagues who had entered the workplace from a variety of backgrounds, something that cannot always be offered on an online website platform!
The fair provided insight into graduate schemes, placement years, and enabled an opportunity to learn more about recruitment processes at each firm.
Free photos?
Additionally, the event also offered free professional headshots which are particularly helpful for sites such as LinkedIn, certain job roles, and assessment centres.
This was a great opportunity as these can be expensive to take and difficult to replicate in other settings.
How to approach and prepare for a fair
Going into these can seem extremely daunting, especially if you are less certain about the specifics of certain industries. Therefore, I have created a checklist of how to make the most out of a careers fair.
Here is my TOTAL checklist for careers fairs
- T - Talk about YOU! You will have to talk about about yourself, your interests and ask questions you want answers to
- O - Open-minded attitude is key. Visit firms you haven't heard of and ask about unknown job routes, you never know what you will find
- T - Time. Use your time wisely, research what firms are there before the event and what opportunities are available
- A - Ask questions to show your interest and get personalised answers. Prepare them ahead of the fair
- L - Listen. Make sure you actively listen and take on board all of the exclusive advice and information you receive
And most of all, be confident. When I attended a university fair in sixth form, I spent the whole event asking my friends to ‘do the talking’, I have now learnt that you can gain so much more from the experience if you make it your own and be as confident as you can.
The event has passed. Why is Katie writing about this?
If you missed this event, don’t fret. The Careers and Employability Service team at Nottingham offer careers fairs throughout the year and so there will be one for you to attend. For instance:
Also, you can see which employers attended the Management, Consulting and Finance Careers Fair. These companies are keen to recruit Nottingham students and graduates so check their websites for vacancies.
Additionally, there are non-university-based fairs you can attend. These often occur in the city, in venues such as the Albert Hall Conference Centre, and the Motorpoint Arena.
- Nottingham Jobs Fair on Friday 17 October at the MotorPoint Arena between 10am and 1pm
- Nottingham Careers Fair on 6 February at the Albert Hall Conference Centre between 10am to 2pm there will be a careers fair. This fair will host companies from all sectors and will be an invaluable opportunity, especially as it is free.
Take a look at all our events including employer recruitment events when companies come onto campus to talk about their vacancies, job and sector insights with professionals sharing their experiences and our job-hunting workshops. Watch out for your weekly events newsletter sent directly to your inbox every Thursday morning.
Posted on Thursday 16th October 2025