Career days are organised events where students learn about potential careers they can follow and connect with professionals and employers. Moreover, these events foster networking, provide career insights, and offer skill development opportunities. Additionally, implementing career days as an EU project activity can significantly enhance participants’ career readiness and employment prospects. This approach proves effective because students learn about different fields and the professional opportunities they offer. Consequently, it is the perfect event for secondary students, as they can clarify which career or degree they want to pursue after completing secondary school. You can reach this post in Turkish here.
To successfully implement a Career Day event, various activities can be planned. Therefore, a well-planned event is key to ensuring students and other participants enjoy and benefit from the experience.
If further add value to the career days events, it can be strategically implemented during Erasmus Days annual event. Implementing a career day event as an EU project activity during the annual Erasmus Days event provides an ideal platform to enhance participants’ international perspectives and foster cross-cultural exchange, aligning with the broader goals of the Erasmus program.
There are sample documents and how to prepare them for the activities are in this post
Examples of activities for Career Days
- Presentations on Course Areas: Firstly, schools showcase their course offerings, helping students understand different academic paths. Additionally, detailed presentations outline the curriculum, career prospects, and success stories of alumni.
- Seminars by Professionals: Secondly, industry experts share insights and experiences, offering real-world perspectives. These seminars provide participants with up-to-date information on industry trends and requirements.
- Workshops: Thirdly, interactive sessions cover resume writing, interview skills, and job search strategies. These workshops help participants develop essential job-seeking skills through practical exercises and feedback.
- Company Booths: Fourthly, employers set up booths to provide information and conduct on-the-spot interviews. This allows students and job seekers to directly engage with companies, ask questions, and learn about job openings.
- Networking Sessions: Moreover, informal gatherings allow participants to interact with professionals and peers. These sessions encourage building connections that can be beneficial for future career opportunities.
- Career Counseling: Lastly, career advisors offer one-on-one sessions to discuss career goals and pathways. Personalized advice helps participants make informed decisions about their career trajectories.
Preparing for the Career Day, Opportunities
- Plan the Agenda: First, outline the schedule of events, including presentations, seminars, and workshops. Add ice-breaking moments or games to promote student communication, team building, and critical thinking. Consequently, ensure a balanced mix of activities to cater to the student’s interests and needs.
- Invite Participants: Next, send invitations to students, employers, and guest speakers well in advance. Early invitations help secure attendance and allow participants to prepare effectively.
- Set Up Logistics: Then, arrange for venues, equipment, and any necessary materials. Confirm all technical and logistical requirements to ensure a smooth event.
- Promote the Event: If you plan to make it an open day where students from other schools can participate, contact those schools. Alternatively, promote the event via social media, email, and posters. Effective promotion ensures good turnout and engagement from the target audience.
- Prepare Consent Forms: If necessary, ensure consent forms for photography and video recordings are ready. These forms are essential for legal and ethical reasons, especially if the material will be used for dissemination.
- Prepare Surveys: Finally, create surveys to distribute to participants during or at the end of the event. If students have internet access, create a digital survey (e.g., using Google Forms). This reduces paper use and makes it easier to analyze feedback afterwards. These surveys will help gather feedback on the event’s effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
During the Career Day, Opportunities
- Cover the Event: Take pictures and videos for dissemination. If necessary, ensure participants sign consent forms. High-quality visual content promotes future events and showcases the current event’s success.
- Conduct Interviews: Have flash interviews with participants to gather their feedback on the event. These interviews provide immediate insights and testimonials, valuable for event evaluation and dissemination purposes.
- Manage Time: Keep the event on schedule to ensure all activities are completed. Delays might compromise following activities, so manage time effectively. If unexpected delays occur, skip less important internal activities like ice-breaker games. Effective time management prevents overlaps and ensures participants can attend all planned sessions.
- Provide Support: Staff should be available to assist participants and address any issues. On-site support quickly resolves logistical or technical problems, ensuring a smooth experience.
- Facilitate Networking: Encourage interaction between students and professionals. Do this after a seminar or during specific networking moments. Organized networking activities or guided introductions help participants make meaningful connections and learn about specific areas of interest.
After the Career Day, Opportunities
- Gather Feedback: Distribute surveys to participants to collect their opinions on the event. Feedback forms help understand the event’s success and identify areas for improvement.
- Analyze Results: Review the collected feedback to pinpoint strengths and areas needing improvement. This analysis is crucial for making informed adjustments for future events.
- Create a Report: Document what went well and what could be improved for future events. A detailed report provides a reference for planning subsequent events and ensures continuous improvement.
- Share Highlights: Post pictures and videos on social media and the project’s website. Sharing highlights increases visibility and engagement, promoting the event’s benefits.
Summary and Checklist
Career days are crucial in bridging the gap between education and employment. They offer valuable networking, learning, and recruitment opportunities.
- Agenda
- Invite participants
- Logistics
- Consent forms (optional)
- Cover the event (photos/videos)
- Facilitate networking
- Surveys to gather feedback from participants
- Event report
You can find more guidelines about EU projects here.
