DEH Student Workshop: Job Hunting and Networking
On Thursday, November 23, 2023, the Department of English and Humanities at the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh organized an online student workshop titled “Job Hunting and Networking” via Google Meet. The workshop was conducted to aid the students in their career pursuits. The third in a series of mandatory student workshops for students enrolled in courses ENG 413, ENG 498, and ENG 499, it was facilitated by Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of English and Humanities.
The workshop started with the host, Ms. Nadia Rahman, Assistant Professor, DEH, introducing the facilitator and inviting her to begin the workshop. Ms. Arifa Ghani Rahman then commenced the session by emphasizing on the importance of building connections with people, stating that job searching is a challenge without networking. Following this, she urged students to assess themselves first; she asked them to discover their passions and pinpoint the skill sets that set them apart in the job market. Furthermore, she asked the students to map out their ultimate career goals before searching for job opportunities in the market.
Although seeking a job can be an arduous process, Ms. Rahman encouraged students to believe in themselves. She advised the students to craft an error-free and concise CV, suggesting they should keep two CVs: one for academic jobs and another for corporate jobs. Furthermore, she suggested that students should create a professional email and regularly check and respond to emails. Ms. Rahman also urged students to establish connections within the professional industry using platforms such as LinkedIn and BDjobs. She emphasized that students should follow social media pages and groups that share job opportunities to smoothly navigate through the spectrum.
With the world becoming technologically advanced, Ms. Rahman brought attention to the importance of creating websites that can easily allow employers to understand the candidates. Additionally, Ms. Rahman urged the students to put similar kinds of information on both CV and cover letter, since having different information on both increases the chances of being rejected.
Besides this, Ms. Rahman provided tips on applying for jobs and what to do while doing the former. She recommended students to be careful about submitting necessary documents, informing people from the organization about attending the interview, and having a good understanding of the salary range and expectations. She also gave pointers on how to look for jobs in international organizations. She guided the students to utilize keywords effectively in their search.
Ms. Rahman then went on to accentuate the importance of volunteering. With that, the workshop neared its end. A question-and-answer session was held to clarify any questions or concerns that students had. Lastly, she concluded the workshop with a reminder that English graduates have a high potential due to their critical analysis and communication skills, thus motivating them, and wishing them luck for future endeavors.
Report by Nabiha Mahfuz (201013099)