NSU inaugurates 10th National Career Fair with over 100 participating companies

The Career and Placement Centre (CPC) of North South University inaugurated the 10th National Career Fair on Saturday at NSU Plaza, bringing together more than 100 local and multinational organisations in what has become one of Bangladesh's premier platforms for graduate recruitment and industry engagement.

MGH Group served as title sponsor for the three-day event, which runs through 3 February and offers students and jobseekers opportunities in recruitment, networking, career guidance and industry seminars.

The opening ceremony at 10am featured speeches from Dr Farzana Nahid, director of CPC and associate professor at NSU, who outlined the fair's vision and the centre's commitment to enhancing graduate employability through closer industry collaboration.

Syed Iqbal Ali Shimul, managing director of MGH Group, addressed attendees alongside Prof Dr Nasar U Ahmed, pro vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Abdur Rob Khan of NSU, and Benajir Ahmed, member of the university's board of trustees.

Prof Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, vice-chancellor of NSU, chaired the session and emphasised the importance of industry-academia partnerships in preparing graduates for the workforce. The programme concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that formally opened the exhibition booths.

Aziz Al Kaiser (Tito), chairman of NSU's board of trustees, attended the inauguration.

Diverse industry participation

A total of 105 companies participated in the fair, including MGH Group, The City Bank, bKash, Marico, MGI, ACI, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, Pathao and BRAC. The event also drew Japanese, Chinese and Korean multinationals, as well as Silver Edge IT, a property preservation business process outsourcing firm participating in the fair for the first time.

Throughout the event, soon-to-be graduates raised questions about career prospects and employability. One recurring query centred on the importance of academic performance, with recruiters noting that financial institutions typically place greater emphasis on strong grades, whereas fast-moving consumer goods companies tend to focus more on overall skill sets and experience.

Recruiters agreed that once minimum academic requirements are met, the strength of a candidate's CV becomes the deciding factor.

Beyond academics

Representatives from The City Bank highlighted the importance of extracurricular activities in distinguishing candidates. Involvement in voluntary work with NGOs, business case competitions and university clubs were cited as major advantages during the shortlisting process.

Nagad stressed the growing importance of data analytics skills, noting that advanced proficiency in Excel, including macro execution, and Power BI can significantly enhance a candidate's profile.

Once shortlisted, selection depends heavily on personal presentation and soft skills. Representatives from IPDC pointed out that although theoretical knowledge remains essential, being street smart, capable of negotiation and results-oriented is equally important. These qualities, they said, should be clearly demonstrated during interviews and assessments.

For roles requiring frequent interaction with external stakeholders, such as sales and public relations positions, being well-groomed was identified as a crucial first step.

Team players sought

Representatives from bKash highlighted that focus group discussions often serve as the most critical stage of their selection process, as the company prioritises team players. They addressed a common misconception that success in such discussions requires dominating the conversation, emphasising instead that the most successful candidates are those who facilitate collaboration and guide the group towards a unified conclusion.

Participating companies expressed strong satisfaction with the overall quality of candidates. Recruiters agreed that the new generation of graduates demonstrates strong potential, adaptability and competence, reinforcing confidence in Bangladesh's future workforce.

The Career and Placement Centre expressed gratitude to MGH Group, participating organisations, university leadership and all stakeholders for their continued support in making the 10th National Career Fair a success.

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