DIGITAL TECH VIRTUAL - PHYSICAL CAREER FAIR
The Premier Digital Tech Career Fair 2019 was held on 27 November 2019 and it is a hybrid career fair where attendees can join physically, virtually or both at the same time. It requires both an offline and online element in the event. An event championed by MDEC with strategic partner SEEDS Job Fair and TOP GLOVE, Air Asia and Linkedin are some of the exhibitors participating. The event launched two activities at the same time which is a live interview and a webinar session. The live interview focusing on the third-year student who looking to secure an internship place while the webinar session is open for all students of the school of computing. The attendees are students from UTM, UiTM Shah Alam and UTAR. I was one of the crew for this fair and taking charge in the webinar session. I can join the webinar session while at the same time handling the attendees and helping MDEC staff to set up the equipment.
I am glad to be able to get involved in this beneficial event for my future career since it gave a glimpse to what it would be. I think this event is a good platform for me to learn more about potential employers and the opportunities available through information sharing sessions. The reason I think that way is that we, students rarely get this kind of exposure since we are too busy with assignments and projects of courses. Plus, I believe this event open up an opportunity or create a platform for the third-year student to secure a spot for their internship programs and they gain experience on how the live interview works and what they should do and don't during a live interview that can make them do better for the next interview. After joining this event, I believe this session gave inside what a company expected or looking for in an employee such as skills and ethics that an employee should have.
This is the first time I participated in the virtual webinar session usually, I just attend a physical talk session. But this is not my first time being a crew event so definitely, I have experience in handling students. This event reminds me of the other event I participated as a crew member and it is kind of similar but yet different. In my opinion, in every program, you join it surely give different experiences and input. The downside of this program is when we facing difficulty with the internet connection during the live webinar session while we try to manage the problem the participant starts lost interest and there is some of students walkway from the hall which is kind of disappointing. But luckily, the second webinar session there is a lot of students who came to fill in the hall and listen and watch the webinar with interest. I can say my leadership and teamworking skills have been better. I learn to tolerate with other members and be cooperative.
For me, the most significant aspect is how to attract students to take interest and participate in this academic fair. Therefore, upon encountering the problem mentioned we prepare a refreshment and ACAD merit will be awarded to those who attend this program to capture student interest. The night before the event, we buy and pack the refreshment together and then sort them in one place. Plus, we prepared a banner and any equipment needed for the fair so the preparation process will be easier on the day of the event. Throughout the fair, I realised that publicity plays a crucial role in this kind of event in order to reach out to more students and attract the student's interest. I realise that the most significant aspect of the virtual program is internet connection although we have set-up the equipment and do testing a day earlier. Unfortunately on the day event, there is always a lost connection so we find another alternative by doing Facebook Live.
I realised and knew a lot of things by joining this program such as gain information about my career that I want to pursue, the view of the work environment and most importantly gain some tips from the company joining about the internship. I have learned that it is crucial to tolerate with the other crew members and be cooperative in handling the program. I believe that joining this event has improved my leadership and communication skills which I can communicate with other people or acquittances much better. And also I believe the teamwork with the other crews makes the event ended successfully. As for the next event, I think that is a need to make an effective publicity plan for an event to be successful and attract more participant. Other than that, this kind of event which is live session requires a strong internet connection in order for the event to be going smoothly as plan.