NTU launches virtual job fair

NTU launches virtual job fair
By Evelyn Choo | Posted: 22 February 2011 1846 hrs

SINGAPORE: The National Technological University (NTU) has launched a virtual career fair, believed to be the region's first, for its students and potential employees.

NTU said there are a record 175 companies taking part in the career fair this year, 60 per cent more recruiters compared to those in 2010.

The number of jobs offered at the fair this year doubled to a whopping 4,500, with about 80 per cent of recruiters from the private sector.

One of the features of the NTU iFair is the virtual career portal developed by NTU, which enables students to meet potential employers, online.

NTU's Career & Attachment Office director Loh Pui Wah said career fairs in the past tend to be brick-and-mortar.

"But with the evolvement of web technology, we want to bring the career fair (to the virtual world), so that companies... can make use of the web to (interact) with the students," Mr Loh said.

About 50 companies have signed up for a piece of the virtual real estate.

And as hiring sentiments make a positive comeback from last year, recruiters look set to step up on their branding for a tech-savvy generation.

DSO National Laboratories human resources assistant director Serene Tan said NTU's iFair is helpful because it is virtual, and cuts down on logistic effort to set up physical career booths.

"They have been quick to set the virtual booth up with some customisation and we will be putting up positions available on our DSO corporate website, which is directly linked to the iFair," she said.

Ms Tan added iFair will also help them get in touch with students on overseas attachments who are unable to attend the physical career fair.

The iFair is set to run from March 14 this year, and will continue to be accessible till June 30, 2011.

Meanwhile, the physical career fair runs on February 22 and 25 at NTU's Nanyang Auditorium.

-CNA/wk

- wong chee tat :)