On February 28, 2017 Pili Malagarriga Vallet from JOBarcelona visited GBSB Global Business School in Barcelona to provide a general info session to the students about the fantastic opportunities coming up in March.
In the middle of the month, the 15th-16th, students will have the chance to attend the fourth annual JOBarcelona career and employment expo. The first conference of this nature was held in 2014 with the main objective to organize a central meeting space where large management companies and candidates could coalesce, satisfying a need that is beneficial for all those that take part. JOBarcelona is a human resource platform that connects job seeking candidates with local and international companies in Spain and greater Europe.
The international congress for youth employment offers a unique opportunity for those candidates willing to invest time and effort in advance into preparing for the actual two-day conference. Ms. Malagarriga Vallet couldn’t stress this point enough. Students and young professionals alike are welcome to attend the event, but it is advised to get on their website a few weeks or even a month or two prior to fill out a profile. This profile provides access to register for various activities and presentations, in addition to being the key reference for employers seeking candidates to fill their job positions.
Ms. Malagarriga Vallet took the time to demonstrate to students how to access the website and what the vital sections are that need to be completed at home to get the most out of the experience. She advised students to look at the job postings, research the speakers and coordinate their time. The admission is free, and once students have registered, they will be provided with a QR code to print and provide at the entrance to the facilities.
Who will be in attendance?
There will be big name companies present, ready to engage prospective candidates for open positions. The European Commission will be there, in addition to Microsoft, Sabadell, and Adidas among many others. It is very interesting to note; the Embassy of Canada will have representatives present alongside the Quebec Delegation representing Canadian companies. They will speak with prospective candidates about job opportunities and legalities regarding living and working in Canada.
What can students expect to learn from attending JOBarcelona?
With a reported 20,000 individuals in attendance in 2016, this year is meant to be even bigger yet. JOBarcelona has a full lineup of events, conferences, and workshops, in addition to the company interviews that students and young professionals can actively participate in.
- Bank Sabadell will be presenting a workshop on Design Thinking describing problem-solving. Different from analytical thinking, design thinking includes "building up" ideas, with little, or no limits on the extent of the "brainstorming" phase.
- Microsoft will present a conference called Adapting Technology to the Use of Different Devises.
- Barcelona Activa will be in attendance to offer personal career guidance assessments to those who attend and make an appointment. Each professionally trained human resource representative will provide a 20-minute coaching session to orientate students and help them to identify and outline their career aspirations.
There are also many other breakout sessions meant to help those in attendance further enhance their soft skills, from how to communicate to working in an innovative team environment. There will be speakers present to discuss personal branding, its importance and fundamental steps to achieving a successful personal brand image.
Another bonus to signing up early is the opportunity to get involved in a wide variety of contests that offer an assortment of awards.
A Word of Advice
Make the most of your time. Be proactive and do the research ahead of time. This is a very unique event that only happens once a year. With the advancements in technology, there is no better time to get in on the workshops and events geared toward digital media, helping to make your profile more marketable through video applications, CV’s accessed by QR codes, and personal brands that turn heads.
Make this investment in your future and get ready for JOBarcelona March 15-16, 2017, from 9:30-19:30 at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. See you there!
