The IE Careers Forum: global impact, global opportunities

The IE Careers Forum is IE University’s premier careers fair, connecting students with top recruiters to maximize their chances of gaining job opportunities before and after graduation. Organized by the IE Talent & Careers team, this event features a roster of industry-specific forums that allow students to explore various career options in depth.

On March 8, students from IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs had their day in the sun, meeting recruiters from the Global Impact and Law sector. Through an expert panel and a subsequent exhibition, they got the chance to interact one-on-one with representatives from a slew of companies and firms leading in the industry.

“The IE Careers Forum allows you to see what kind of possibilities and opportunities are out there for an internship for the summer and get to meet actual HR professionals and talk to them.”
Clara Mohr, a Dual Degree Bachelor in Business Administration and Bachelor in International Relations student

The Global Impact & Law forum

In this most recent edition, held at IE Tower, participants enjoyed welcome appetizers and coffee before embarking on a round of student-recruiter networking with top companies, including TMF Group, Deloitte LATAM, DLA Piper, Perez-Llorca, Ontier, Harmon, Vinces, Atrevia, Plan International, Puentes Global, Futuro Perfecto, OCU, Be Bartlet and Roman. Each had a stand at the exhibition where students could gather more information about the organizations and ask questions about their recruitment process.

In addition, a careers advisor was on hand to give on-the-spot advice and guidance. Students also had access to a professional photographer for those essential LinkedIn headshots. Another highlight was the “Insights and tips to land a job in Global Impact and Law” expert panel, led by representatives from DLA Piper, Futuro Perfecto and Harmon Corporate Affairs.

Lessons from the forum

From the event, it is clear that companies today are looking for candidates who will be an asset to their diverse international teams—so teamwork, collaboration and language skills are high on the list. 

“The Careers Forum is a great resource to get to meet global organizations and understand what they are looking for and how we could fit better into their requirements.”
Mengru Li, a Master in International Relations student

Recruiters also value English and bilingual competence, along with a well-honed international outlook which, because of our teaching methodologies and global student body, our graduates already display. In addition, flexibility, adaptability, a proactive approach and the motivation to learn continuously are all qualities that these organizations value in a potential candidate.

What should you do before your next interview?

The best way to prepare for an interview is to gather as much information as possible about the company’s history, mission and values. It’s also advisable to research their current projects and talk to graduates already working there—taking advantage of IE University’s impressive alumni community. This way,  students will be able to prepare specific questions to ask during the interview, thus demonstrating their interest in a career with the company. 

“My tip for this event is definitely to be prepared; get to know the companies you are interested in and what they do, because they notice your interest.”
Daniel Vermehren-Herrera, a Master in Applied Economics student

Even for those who don’t yet feel ready to start applying, the IE Careers Forum provides students a deadline to get those all-important documents in order, such as updating their resume and uploading it to the Career Portal, or perfecting their elevator pitch. In addition, Prep Sessions offered before the event help students build up their confidence and practice their networking skills.