Studying in London is a fantastic opportunity for so many reasons. In the capital city of over eight million people, there are more than 850 art galleries, four UNESCO World Heritage sites and more than 800 bookshops and over 380 public libraries. The UK as a whole is also home to 5.7 million private sector businesses with 483,000 workers in The City of London alone.
For those who wish to remain here and join the UK’s workforce after their studies, job and career fairs can be a great place to start. There are also opportunities at these fairs for any graduates who prefer to work abroad in the future. We have put together a list of some dates to add to your calendar this year.
26 – 27 April
Westfield – Shepherd’s Bush
This careers fair is the UK’s most attended recruitment event and it takes place in the spring. The April show can be found at Westfield London W12 in West London. This event showcases thousands of employment and training opportunities, including part-time and full-time positions, entry-level, senior executive jobs, apprenticeships and graduate positions in a wide range of sectors. The event itself offers CV clinics and careers seminars as well, and the chance to meet employers face to face and apply for jobs on the spot. The Job Show is free, and attendees do not need to register beforehand – if you’re interested in visiting, you can find more information here.
5 April
Farringdon – The Hatton
The Hatton Garden Job Fair is a brand-new, free event on the London careers scene. Using the hashtag, #HattonGardenIsOpen they are inviting school, college and university leavers as well as job seekers to come and see what they have to offer. The organisers are promising ‘a vast array of amazing businesses scouting for the brightest and best’ with companies from leisure and hospitality, marketing, PR, branding and design agencies, architecture, transport, professional services, sports nutrition, clothing, and, of course, jewellery production – from both retail and design. These businesses will be looking for interns, apprentices, full-time, part-time and a range of specialisms within their sector.
27 – 28 April
Truman Brewery
Are you interested in a career in tech or digital? Then this is the event for you. The tickets are free, however, you have to apply for them beforehand, which you can do here. Every ticket application is reviewed before it is accepted, and you are then given a ticket to the day which best suits your skillset and interests. According to information online, Saturday is best for product managers, project managers, designers and marketers; Sunday is best for developers and data scientists – both days offer immediate job opportunities and fantastic chances to network. The list of companies attending this year’s event is impressive and includes The Guardian, Which?, GiffGaff, Farfetch, Accenture and Citymapper. The website gives handy hints for preparing before you go and also details what to expect on the day you attend. You can find that information here.
19 June
Olympia Conference Centre
This free event is designed specifically for graduates looking for opportunities after their studies. Whether you know exactly which industry you are interested in or are unsure of what to do after graduation, this is the place to get inspired. The day-long event begins at 11am and ends at 4pm and is held in Kensington, West London. It is the biggest national graduate recruitment fair in London and gives students and recent graduates the chance to discover vacancies and grad schemes in a range of different industries. As well as representatives of some of the UK’s top companies, recruiters will also be in attendance and you will have plenty of time to network and form connections that could be useful in the future. There is also a free CV advice service and several presentations aimed at helping you kick-start your career.
11 – 12 October
Olympia London
A career fair with a difference, this event focuses more on giving you the information and skills you need to find a career you love than offering opportunities with employers. What Career Live? will be held in West London from 10am to 4pm and will provide mock assessments, CV doctors, STEM workshops, student and graduate careers advice. Graduates will probably want to focus on events going on the Careers Theatre – you can find the jam-packed schedule here, which features talks like ‘Chartered accountancy – a career that offers more than you’d imagine’ and ‘Women in engineering’. You can find out all about the two-day event here.
If you want more information about studying at Northumbria University London, visit our website, or to view the courses available please visit our courses page.
