The virtual world of graduate job hunting

Media Release:
The brave new virtual world of graduate job hunting

www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au

Starting next week (from March 3), students in their final years of university study will have the opportunity to access a virtual world of graduate career opportunities via the Virtual Careers Fair. From 11 March they will also be able to talk online in real time to leading employers of graduates, and to get careers and job application advice from leading careers specialists.

The 2008 Virtual Careers Fair (VCF) is the biggest event of its kind in Australasia with the participation of over 40 higher education institutions from across Australia and New Zealand

Last year the VCF received over 13,500 visits over the nine days of the fair, and to the end of April, the site had received 25,548 visits. There were almost 100 employers exhibiting during the VCF in 2007.

Graduate Careers Australia is managing the VCF, and Executive Director Cindy Tilbrook hopes the fair will be even bigger this year. She said, “This is an exciting event and we hope 2008 will see even more students use the site to find jobs and utilise valuable job-hunting resources. The Virtual Careers Fair is a first rate opportunity for students to talk to potential employers and get job search advice from the experts.”

The 2008 Virtual Careers Fair offers a host of resources and activities for students, such as:

 Search for graduate positions, vacation and volunteer work, by field of education and location.
 Online question-and-answer chat sessions hosted by leading graduate employers.
 “Job Doctor”, a regular online question-and-answer chat session with careers advisors.
 VCF Pod Centre, where graduates can listen to or download exclusive interviews with graduate employers, newly hired graduates, and careers advisors.
 Interactive interview game, where students can practice their interviewing skills.
 “Get the Look, Get the Job”, where graduates can test their knowledge of personal presentation.
 Job-hunting resources, such as employment, industry and salary information about graduates. Includes career advice for International Students.
 Information about careers services and careers fairs.

The VCF will run from March 3-20 but users are able to register online early at www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au. The VCF site will remain viewable in a passive state until 30 June so that students can access employer interview transcripts and other non-interactive resources. Anyone can register for the VCF, although the content of the fair is targeted at final or penultimate year university graduates.

Founded in 2000 by careers services staff at the University of New England (UNE), the management of the VCF was previously a joint operation between UNE and Graduate Careers Australia. In 2007, Graduate Careers Australia took over the running of the fair entirely, and gratefully acknowledges the founding role of the University of New England careers service. Graduate Careers Australia is a non-profit company whose mission is to be the leading authority on the supply of, and demand for, graduates in Australia (www.graduatecareers.com.au).

For more information, contact Kathy Unger on +61 3 9605 3732 or email kathy.unger@graduatecareers.com.au

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