This article was written by Media and Communications intern Hollie Mitchell. Image: Third-year student Declan Farrell with Employability Events Coordinator Anthea Kupec.
Got an hour to spare before or after class? Spending it at the Employability Expo at La Trobe could set you up for a lifelong career.
That’s the experience of Declan Farrell, who successfully secured a graduate position at accounting and advising firm William Buck after attending the 2024 Employability Expo at Bundoora campus.
Declan, a third-year accounting student in the Bachelor of Commerce, also learned about the application process from recruiters at the panel session prior to the expo.
‘They give it a little bit more context from their perspective of what they’re looking for,’ Declan said.
Standing out from the crowd
Sandwiched between classes, Declan said his hour spent at the expo was well worth it, as the in-person interaction and ‘good chats’ were invaluable to helping him stand out.
‘I was able to make an impression in person, which is a lot easier than sending in a resume.’
His impressions at the expo made him a familiar face to the William Buck recruitment team.
‘When I was going through the recruitment process of their video interview, I was already talking with someone that I’ve met at the expo,’ Declan said.
I was able to make an impression in person, which is a lot easier than sending in a resume
‘So, I was able to feel more comfortable, but they already knew who I was as well.’
Declan said attending the expo was a unique opportunity to get his foot in the door for securing a graduate program.
‘If they liked you from that small interaction, it’s a lot easier to go from there,’ Declan said.
For future networking opportunities and events, students can better plan their day by thinking about who to approach and what to talk about.
‘If you have limited time, try and get there early,’ Declan said.
‘If you have someone in mind, go to them first and talk to them.’
Keep an eye out for future information about the 2025 Employability Expo. You never know, you just might meet your next employer.