The students were very attentive during all the session
After the success of the last year, we were glad to host and take part in “The Two Weeks”, a programme organised by the Polytechnic University of Valencia, counting on 20 students on their final year. This programme takes place once a year and it aims to give students the opportunity to approach the international job market providing them tips and advice on how to look for a job in a foreign country in order to increase their career opportunities.
During these two weeks, participants visit well-known companies across several sectors: Energy, IT, Industrial Production, Technical Consultancy, Financial Engineering, Construction, and Construction and Real State. The participants take also a 2 hours daily course to get familiar with recruitment and how to succeed in an application process.
Professor Antoni Reig, industrial engineer from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and co-ordinator of the programme, came along with the students and kindly introduced the seminar and speakers of the session. Mr. Igor Urra, Secretary General of the Chamber, was in attendance to provide further information about our institution and the activities we organise throughout the year. On the other hand, the Secretary General talked about the Graduate European Programme, which has similar goals to The Two Week s Programme. As he pointed out “The opportunities are here, and once you have been here you are able to go to other countries because almost every multunational in the world has headquarters in London”.
Antonio Reig (left) handed a plate to our Secretary General, Igor Urra, to mark this visit.
The next speaker was Ms. Sofía Vázquez, CEO of Mundialengua, a company specialised in finding internships and placements for graduates. This is the second year that she participates in this programme as a speaker. During her presentation, which focused on what the main objectives or an interview /selection process are -, she gave the students some very useful tips regarding how important it is to make a good first impression at an interview.
She also mentione other things to take into consideration such as the need to be flexible, not arriving too early or too late, and the importance of asking questions. She also encouraged attendees to look for internships, as in her own words “it is a really good way to explore the market and to learn; even when it is not paid you may get an opportunity to stay afterwards, either as an extension of your internship, or even get hired after some months”.
Ms. Vázquez explaining the benefits of getting an internship
To end up with the session, Sergio Soriano, who was a former student at the Polythecnic and took part in the first edition of the Two Weeks Programme, shared his experience with the current participants.
He described his own job hunting experience in a city where there are a lot of opportunities but also “there are lots of selection processes, and good pages to look for them. It is always hard to pass the tests, as well as the interview; however it’s worth trying if that’s what you want to do”. Finally, he described how living in London is like and shared some useful advice for those interested in following his steps and move here. Sergio has been working in different companies since he arrived in London.
Mr. Soriano sharing his experience with the students
We would like to thank Mr. Antonio Reig for counting with the Spanish Chamber again to organise and host this session and special thanks as well to all the students who attended. We wish the students the best of luck for their future careers.