By Moza AlKhayyal and Lilya Otmani
UNIVERSITY CITY, SHARJAH – To help students transition from university to the professional world, the Career Services Unit at the Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs (OAAA) at the American University of Sharjah hosted Job Preparation Day across two days: April 25-26.
The first day included a CV Writing Workshop by Cummins, a multinational corporation; and an Interview Skills workshop by Crescent Entreprises. In the latter, recruiter Will Briggs taught student attendees how to create a good impression by dressing professionally and being on time.
The organization’s culture and structure should be the primary topics of discussion in a job interview with potential employers, said Briggs, the company’s senior specialist for talent acquisition. He recommended visiting employers’ social media profiles and websites before an interview, adding that job applicants should always study the organization carefully before applying.
He noted that some common interview questions serve as icebreakers. Responses to personal questions should emphasize professional skills and links to the field, he said. He added that interviewers are more interested in finding out how applicants can fit into the organization than discussing their course load or time spent in university.
On the second day, OAAA organized a personal branding workshop to show students the process of defining and promoting their unique professional identity and reputation, to set them apart from others in the field.
OAAA also arranged one-on-one mock interviews for students with companies including -, Coty, Crescent Enterprises, Etisalat by E&, FieldCore, KPMG, Lufthansa TechnikNetwork International, Richemont, Standard Chartered Bank, TotalEnergies, Henkle, Golf Craft
