I’m back to share my experience so far planning and promoting a University wide event called Spring Forward to the Future.
Purpose of the event:
The event's purpose is to facilitate student networking with employers in an informal environment, including a guest speaker panel with esteemed Solent alumni! They will be sharing their journey from student, to graduate and how they have achieved successful careers in their chosen industries. Students will have the opportunity to learn from employers and acquire useful contacts.
Why it's worth attending:
Networking is an important part of bridging the gap between being a student and becoming a graduate who is keen to enter the working world. This can be a daunting experience for first-timers. I attended a similar event in my first year at uni and it was challenging to think of relevant and useful questions on the spot in front of impressive professionals. Therefore, we decided it was crucial to create content to ease the challenges of the experience.
(Richard Berry's photography of a similar past event)
We shared top tips on social media with students indicating that they could attend the event with friends and course mates. Furthermore, we’ve prepared a student help sheet to hand out on the day including a delegate list so students can carefully consider which employers would be most valuable to converse with AND we’ve also created a list of categorised prompt questions as a starting point for students.
Planning behind the scenes:
It has been a great experience, the rigorous process full of lengthy meetings which included communicating at Director level has prepared me for my future career in PR.
Getting the word out:
My main role was to promote the event to students on social media. Creating content in a timely manner was challenging but it was satisfying to see engagement with the posts across a range of platforms. I learnt which platforms students engaged with most (Instagram) and which employers engaged with most (Twitter and LinkedIn).
At the event, as well as the chance to network with over 40 employers, there will be a LinkedIn Photo booth, an Instagram workshop and a CV clinic run by Solent Futures. If you are a student at Solent University don't miss out! The event is taking place on the 10th February 2022 in The Spark. All levels at the uni are more than welcome. Let me know if you are attending.