By Puja Bhetwal and Office of Public Affairs
March 29, 2023 – The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Career Center organized the AIT Career Fair to facilitate networking opportunities for students with industry professionals on March 29. The event was attended by over 200 students from AIT and other universities and 40 organizations from Thailand and Asia.
Prof. Shobhakar Dhakal, Vice President for Academic Affairs at AIT, welcomed everyone at the career fair and emphasized its significance for the institution and the students. He expressed his gratitude to the participating companies and institutions and the guest speakers who provided career talks.
During his speech, Prof. Dhakal also praised AIT’s unique qualities and potential contribution to the workforce. He emphasized the four key attributes that AIT students possess, including their in-depth knowledge in their field, international experience, critical and creative thinking skills, and strong communication skills. Furthermore, he highlighted the increasing importance of Asia in the global economy and the need for professionals who can work in multicultural environments. Prof. Dhakal expressed his confidence that AIT students and graduates could help in this direction and provide critical human resources for the region.
Dr. Naveed Anwar, the Vice President for Knowledge Transfer at AIT, delivered the opening remarks at the career fair, emphasizing the significance of finance and human resources (HR) in any organization. He acknowledged the power of these two resources and how they play a vital role in the expansion of an organization. Dr. Anwar also highlighted the crucial role of HR professionals in finding and supporting the right people, especially when job-seekers seek organizations that align with their vision and values. He acknowledged the importance of HR in finding the appropriate personnel and taking care of them appropriately, particularly during challenging times. Furthermore, he encouraged attendees to connect their positions to AIT and make the most of the opportunities for engagement with the institute’s centers.
The career fair and student research exhibition, both regular events at AIT, was attended by 40 organizations and companies, consisting of nine first-timers and 31 recurring partners. Numerous students participated in the event, where they had the opportunity to meet recruiters, discover job and internship openings, and connect with company representatives. In addition, the event presented students with valuable insights into long-term career prospects, on-the-job training, and research opportunities.
The career fair also included afternoon talk sessions consisting of four talks aimed at providing students with valuable insights for their career development. Several topics were discussed during the talks. Mr. Khunakorn Kabkham, senior venture architect at Kasikorn X, talked about the opportunities and challenges of decentralized finance. Meanwhile, Mr. Jirapas Amonpiticharoen, a legal tax expert, discussed integrational taxation for foreign employees. The audience also learned about mindfulness and coping with stress from Mr. Sarin Sony, COO of Me Hug Mental Health Services and a clinical psychologist. Additionally, Mr. Wrapol Palbonudsrakum, Country HR Manager at JobsDB, shared valuable insights on job market trends and tips for career development.
Highlighting the event’s significance, Dr. Kamonkanok Kiatisakchai, Director of AIT’s Office of Student Affairs (OSA), stressed the potential for students to apply the knowledge they acquired towards their career development. She described the event as an exceptional opportunity for students to gain insights and translate them into practical actions for their career paths.
Among the first-time attendees were companies such as AIT Extension & AIT Language Center, DroneAcharya Aerial Innovations Ltd., LINEMAN (Thailand) Co., Ltd, MDPI (Thailand) Company Ltd, Prudential Life Assurance (Thailand), Runergy PV Technology (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Sertis Co., Ltd., Techtronic Industries (Thailand) Ltd, and World Bank Group.
Similarly, the event also drew recurring partners like UNESCAP Gulf Energy Development PLC, Tractebel Engie, Plan International, Inc, Fabrinet, Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction Public Company Limited, Aurecon Consulting (Thailand) Ltd, PetroRes Consulting Co. LTD, Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management PCL, Pylon Public Company Limited, Meinhardt (Thailand) Ltd, PromptNow Company Limited, Mott Macdonald, Double A (1991) Public Company Limited, Modern Dyestuffs & Pigments Co., Ltd, AAPICO ITS Company Limited, Vinarco Services (Thailand) Limited, Thaicom public company limited, Lazada Ltd, DHL Supply Chain (Thailand) Ltd, Planet T & S Co., Ltd, AIT Office of Human Resources Services (OHRS), Christiani & Nielsen (Thai) Public Company Limited, Softel Communication (Thailand) Co., Ltd, and Entronica Co., Ltd.
Two companies, Sertis and EssilorLuxottica, shared their experience at the AIT Career Fair. Sertis, an AI consultancy firm, attended the fair for the first time and expressed satisfaction with the professional and intellectual atmosphere. Jennifer Højgaard, TA Tech Lead at Sertis, spoke highly of the crowd, describing them as smart and knowledgeable individuals with potential for data science and analytics roles. Sertis focuses on data science, engineering, and analytics and is interested in hiring AIT graduates, especially in the field of data science.
On the other hand, EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in the eyewear industry with over 170 years of history, was seeking to hire innovative graduate engineers to join their team. Kally Hjort Kallinikos, the company’s Regional Manager for Talent Attraction and Employer Branding, emphasized that they were looking for candidates with not only the right education but also the right personality and language capability. She praised AIT as the right place for the company to find such talent, citing a successful case in which they hired a Mechatronic graduate from AIT in 2021 who is now happily working with them in the Department of Global Engineering.
Anagha Arun, a third-semester master’s student of Agribusiness Management, was in search of an internship opportunity. She shared that attending the career fair to look for an internship was a fantastic experience. Anagha had the opportunity to meet with recruiters from various industries and learn more about the different internship options available to her. She discussed her qualifications and internship goals with the recruiters, gaining valuable insights into what employers look for in potential interns.
Jirasak Buranathawornsom, a DSAI (Data Science and Artificial Intelligence) student in his fourth semester, had a positive experience at a career fair where he secured a promising opportunity. He described the event as well-organized, with enthusiastic representatives from several companies eager to interact with the attendees. He expressed his appreciation, stating that he gained a newfound understanding of the various opportunities available to him and the confidence to pursue his dream job in data science.
In addition to providing a platform for attendees to interact with potential employers, the AIT Career Fair offered other engaging activities. Attendees had the opportunity to explore a Research Exhibition, which showcased 12 posters highlighting students’ research, as well as attend career talks and visit the JobsDB Resume Clinic and Career Advice Corner. Furthermore, registered participants had the chance to win attractive prizes through raffle draws, including a Smart Watch for 1st and 2nd prizes, Homkrun vouchers, and other goodies. Winners of the Instagram campaign for “Most Likes” and “Most Comments” were also rewarded with a special Career Counseling Service Package. Additionally, the AIT Food Market, located outside the AIT Conference Center, offered a variety of food options for attendees to enjoy during the event.
The AIT Career Fair held each semester is a highly anticipated event among AIT students. According to Ms. Carla Gonzales, Coordinator, AIT Career Center, the fair is one of the center’s most popular and sought-after activities. Over the years, numerous AIT students have secured internships and jobs related to their field of interest through this event. The fair serves as a platform for students to meet potential employers and explore various career options. Ms. Gonzales expressed her optimism that the Career Fair will continue to be held in the coming years, with an even wider range of companies and organizations participating to benefit AIT students further.
