University Builds On China Careers Fair Success To Attract Top Recruiters

Cardiff University joined GW4 Alliance partners (Bath, Bristol and Exeter universities) to hold Careers Fairs in Beijing and Shanghai, building on the success of the inaugural event in Shanghai last year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The GW4 Careers Fairs in China attracted the largest employer brands from the world of graduate recruitment including organisations such as Abercrombie and Fitch, Apple, IBM and Nielsen amongst many others. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the popularity of the GW4 Careers Fair in 2015, an additional number of large recruiters from the Asia Pacific region joined this year’s events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Employers praised the events for the number of high-quality graduates attending and for their smooth organisation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leaf Ye, Senior Recruiter, Abercrombie & Fitch (Asia), says: “The GW4 Career Fairs offered a great opportunity for Abercrombie & Fitch to connect with a diverse group of graduates with high quality academic backgrounds, as well as a strong employability profile. We enjoyed a really memorable experience and opportunity to meet such great candidates. My team appreciated being invited to such successful fairs and are already looking forward to participating next year.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The GW4 Careers Fairs increased the scope of job opportunities for many Chinese graduates from Cardiff University, as well as contributing to the growing global reputation of the institution. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Amanda Coffey, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Student Experience and Academic Standards, says: “I am delighted that the GW4 Careers Fairs have had such a positive reception in China. It is testimony to the high quality of our graduates, and to the hard work of our Careers and Employability colleagues that these events have proved to be so successful. We look forward to next year, when we hope to welcome many more major recruiters and graduates.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kirsty McCaig, Employer Liaison Manager at Cardiff University, helped to organise the events. She says: “With the success of both the recent Shanghai and Beijing fairs and with twice the number of graduates and employers attending compared to last year, it is really gratifying to see how this programme is now viewed as a ‘must attend’ fixture in the diaries of major Chinese graduate recruiters.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The fairs were delivered as part of the GW4 Alliance careers partnership, bringing together member institutions Cardiff University, University of Bristol, University of Bath and University of Exeter. Due to the ongoing popularity of the GW4 Careers Fairs in China, plans are now underway to accommodate even larger numbers of attendees and exhibitors next year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​