Varying benefits of the virtual IT Career day
Several of the online functions were welcomed by both the students and members of the DIKU Business Club, but one thing is sure: the physical meeting must return.
Quite extraordinarily, this year's IT career day went online. With a closed university, it was not possible to meet physically. However, the organizers are pleased that they could let the members of the DIKU Business club meet with the university’s it students before the summer holidays – only virtually:
- There is no doubt that we would have liked the companies and the students to meet face-to-face, a virtual fair cannot replace the physical career day, but we are pleased that all parties have pushed fast and helped make the day possible despite Covid-19, says Inge Hviid Jensen, manager of the DIKU Business Club.
A total of 40 companies and well over 240 students were registered – of which 60% of the students participated actively. Overall, this means that the fair was visited by fewer students than the normal physical fair. On the other hand, many companies had an active approach and contacted the students themselves via the platform. Some companies, however, indicated that they had too few chats with relevant students.
- Of course we would have liked the figures to be even better, but it should be noted that there was a great deal of difference also in the way the companies used the platform's functions. However, I can already reassure you that we will be returning to the physical IT Career Day next year, says Inge Hviid Jensen.
Easily accessible information was a plus
Many of the companies that participated in this year's IT Career Day used the opportunity to find a match in the database and to contact the students directly. Sarah Maria Hyatt, who is first-year students in the master's program in computer science, noticed this. She was surprised by the interest that the companies showed:
- Overall, I am actually left with the impression that I have benefitted much more from this year's online career day. I missed the nice time with my fellow students in the entrance hall, but this year I have got a much clearer idea of what the companies have to offer because I had more time and peace around me.
As a result of the many chats, Sarah is now in continuous contact with several companies. Two of the participating companies, Netcompany, and 3Shape, also say that the easily accessible information has brought them valuable contact with several students:
- During a regular fair, I can not just download people's resumes and go start a dialogue with them. I would depend on them to come to talk to me. That was possible here and a very cool feature, says Mikkel Odderup Hadsbjerg, who however would prefer to meet the students face-to-face next year. Also 3Shape highlight the easy access to information:
- I thought it went quite well, we saw a lot of interest from the students and graduates which I believe will pay off. And the cool thing is that we can continue our conversations with the students directly on the platform, says Christine Hartvigsen, P&O Partner R&D at 3Shape.
Pleased by the support
The DIKU Business Club is very pleased to see that many participants indicate that they have benefitted positively from participating.
- And we are so happy that we were met with great support when we announced our plans to try this virtual model instead of canceling, says Inge Hviid Jensen.
She stresses that the many experiences will be included in the planning of next year's career fair, which would likely combine the best of the virtual fair with the physical fair.