Media Release: Virtual Careers Fair 2007

Embargoed until Wednesday 28 February 2007
www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au

Students in their final years of university study will soon have the opportunity to talk online to some of the leading employers of graduates in the region and to get careers and job application advice from leading careers specialists,

The 2007 Virtual Careers Fair (VCF) will be the biggest event of its kind in Australasia with the participation of around 40 higher education institutions from across Australia and New Zealand

The event has grown enormously since it began in 2000, and last year received over 76,000 visits. Graduate Careers Australia’s Cindy Tilbrook, who is managing the VCF, hopes the fair will be even bigger this year. She said, “This is an exciting event and we hope 2007 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 2007 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
- Online discussion forums and information about careers services and careers fairs.

The VCF will run from March 13-23 but users are able to register online early at www.vcf.graduatecareers.com.au. The VCF site will remain viewable in a passive state for a further 3 months 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 has taken over the running of the fair entirely, although we gratefully acknowledge the founding role of the University of New England careers service. Graduate Careers Australia is a non-profit company who’s mission is to be the leading authority on the supply of, and demand for, graduates in Australia (www.graduatecareers.com.au).

ENDS