Islamabad:17 June: The Seventh Annual Job Fair was organised by the Department of Management Sciences (MS) at the National University of Modern Languages (NUML) on Friday, says a press release.

More than 25 national and international companies conducted interviews, including Askari Bank Limited, Fauji Foundation, ZTE Pakistan, Hashoo Foundation, Jubilee Life Insurance, Mustakbil.com, Islamabad Sarena Hotel, SNL Finances, Sina Institute, Al-Mashriq Trust, Mediator Advertising, HRDN, Asia Foundation, Saba International Education and Welfare Trust, Rotary International, Oober Software House, Khubaib Foundation, PFFB, Moomoos International, Opal Studio and many others. Moreover, a large number of students, including old and new, participated in the job fair.

The fair was inaugurated by Khurshid Zafar, group head commercial banking of the Askari Bank Limited. The opening ceremony was attended by NUML Director General (DG) Brigadier Azam Jamal, Syed Tauqeer Haider Rizvi, regional general manager north of the Askari Bank Limited, Khalid Ejaz Malik, acting area manager (Islamabad) of the Askari Bank Limited, Dean MS Department Dr Rasheed, Head of MS Department Naseer Rajpoot, faculty members, representatives of different companies and a large number of students.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Khurshid Zafar told students that as fresh graduates, the first lesson from the practical world is to prepare you for the hard journey ahead. Grades, honours and appreciation letters will look great on your CV, but companies are not hiring degrees or medals that you have earned over years. Companies hire the person that you are. "You will have to learn to sell yourself since your CV barely offers you an entry into the door of employer. Treat yourself as a product and build yourself as a brand," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, NUML Director General Brigadier Azam Jamal said that the university was committed to utilising all resources to help students hone their skills, develop their link with places they are looking forward for jobs, maintain liaison with industry and get appropriate jobs.

Head of MS Department Naseer Rajpoot said that prior to this students are properly trained for making their CVs, appearance in interviews and exhibiting their communication skills and then department publishes a booklet that includes the profile of all those students who have appeared in their final examinations and seeking jobs.

"Moreover, the purpose of the job fair is to provide a platform to bring together employers and job seekers, introduce students to opportunities available in the market, developing liaison between the department and industry and introduce students to market requirements with reference to their academic specialties and assisting them in finding a niche," he added.

A student of BBA VIII, Ayesha Fayyaz, who also appeared in an interview, said: "The exercise of going through an interview is great learning and it has helped her and her fellows to know what exactly can make them a suitable candidate an employer is looking for."