The professional world comes to EPFL

Some students are finishing their studies and are looking for their first job. Others are just coming for a peek behind the curtain of their future, to see what the professional world looks like. There are also those who discover their vocation when they visit a booth and change their study plans in consequence. Some will get their first job. All of them, by coming to the EPFL Forum, will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the job market, to understand how to meet the demands of an employer and to take the first steps in developing a network, a critical part of any professional career. “You shouldn’t wait to be actively looking for a job to come to the EPFL Forum,” says David van der Maas, who earned his degree in Communications Systems in February 2011. “I think that you should go at least once just to see how it works and how you can take advantage of it.”

Students will have plenty on hand to satisfy their curiosity. The 2011 edition boasts more than 140 companies, such as Nestlé, Procter &Gamble, BASF, Novartis and Google, as well as 15 partner universities. More than 80 booths will be available for students to make contact with companies and conduct individual interviews or lunch meetings. More than 60 companies will make presentations over four days. A special day will be dedicated to start-up companies, who often offer the opportunity for students to do internships or thesis projects. Simulations also give students an opportunity to practice their interviewing skills.

If companies have been coming to the EPFL Forum for more than thirty years, it’s because the event offers them one of Switzerland’s best recruiting platforms. It’s also certainly because of the student team that manages the Forum, taking care of every last detail. The EPFL Forum has also gone green, and the association is certified ISA 14,0001. It’s also watching its carbon footprint by making efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and by involving participants. Practical information is also readily at hand with an iPhone and Android app. On September 29, the Forum offered a seminar by Philippe Ory, head of the EPFL Career Center, entitled: “Réussir son Forum” (“Making the most of your Forum”). Everything has been done to ensure that the immersion in the professional world will be a success.