By Roosmarijn Haring, editor in chief Speedy one-on-one meetings scheduled for students to meet face to face with industry professionals were scheduled as Ocean Careers 09’s afternoon sessions on 1st April 2009, during Ocean Careers in Southampton. The sittings appeared a huge success. What did the industry reveal?  Students were able to pre-book their personal mentoring 10 minute sessions themselves, in order to find out all they needed to know about the industry. After having been sitting down with students asking me questions as the editor of Hydro International, my fellow professionals were so kind to let me drop ears. Most professionals started off by asking the students their educational background, followed by the students firing questions. Like if we thought they’d be on the right track, if we’d know any good internships or summer schools. I was asked if we’d hire any freelancers, others were asked for job opportunities.  What positively surprised me was that the students weren’t per se youngsters, leading to at least one meeting of a young professional and an elderly gentleman. Some of the questions were quite technical, others were focussing on the internal educational program of the company and potential career paths within such company. One of the professionals appeared to be a recruiter, asking one student if he maybe had more fellow students with the same educational background.  Some students had already digested the earlier been giving tips, bringing their CVs to the speed dates. One student was so smart to ask if her CV was appealing enough to the particular professional she was talking to, or if it needed any changes. Some of the sessions unfolded in fact as pre-job interviews. One thing was clear to me: It for sure is a great way to get your self in the picture of a company or organisation in the ocean industry!   

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