Industry-leading employers and Greystone College students came together at the Greystone College Career Fair, held at the Downtown Vancouver campus on October 28, 2016. The event provided students with the opportunity to connect directly with employers, learn about potential career paths, and explore employment opportunities related to their fields of study. By bringing students and employers into the same space, the career fair supported professional networking and career development for the Greystone College community.
Imagine having to meet your future employers under one roof in the convenience of your familiar campus surroundings. October 28th was the day the Greystone campus transformed into an exhibition hall for employers eager to meet qualified students and select candidates for open positions at their companies.
The entire campus was abuzz with excitement and activity, with close to 300 students and 14 employer groups interacting, exchanging resumes, and conducting mini on-the-spot interviews.
Amongst the employers were several long-term industry partners of Greystone College such as Canucks Events and Entertainment, West Trek Tours, Steve Nash Fitness World, The Fairmont, Roots, and Thierry Chocolaterie. While for many others like the YVR Plaza Premium Lounge, The Body Shop, River Rock Casino Resort, Lush, Artisan Wine Shop, Butler Did It Catering, The Yolo Choice, and SunLife Financial, this was their debut exposure to the quality offerings at Greystone College.
Whether old or new to the school, all employer partners described the event as a great success. Employers were impressed with the attitude of Greystone’s students; they described the enthusiasm from students as one of the factors that gave the event such a fantastic atmosphere. Justine Chobotuk, a recruiter from The Body Shop, had this to say: “Students came well-prepared to answer questions and with an extensive knowledge base. Greystone students will be an excellent asset to our business.”
As for the students who came prepared to meet their future employers with perfected resumes, confidence, and professionalism, their efforts paid off. All the employers not only accepted their resumes, but also promised to contact them for further interviews. One such student was Eduardo Contreras from Mexico, who beamed with pride when he said: “Most of the companies here have my resume. I am really confident now that I will have a job here”.
Career fairs are invaluable for both job seekers and employers. They are an excellent opportunity for employers to connect with many potential candidates at once, but they also give the job seeker an opportunity to show their personality rather than being judged on their resume alone. Most employers received roughly 40 resumes, with the intention of calling many of them back. The co-op team is currently talking with employers to see how many of the attendees will be joining their teams.
The Greystone College Career Fair highlighted the importance of connecting education with real-world employment opportunities. Events like this allow students to engage directly with employers, gain insight into industry expectations, and take meaningful steps toward their career goals. With structured guidance and practical experience, Greystone College continues to support students as they prepare for the workforce.
Contributed by Sarah Pollard, Co-op Program Advisor at Greystone College Vancouver.
Interested in taking a Co-op program at Greystone College? Greystone offers Co-op programs and provides students with the support they need to become job-ready and confident as they enter the workforce.