More than 250 students took part in this year’s Annual College Student Networking Event (CSNE) hosted by Business Bermuda at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess hotel last week.The event, which is in its 13th year, was declared the most successful to date by the organisers with more than 300 local professionals also in attendance.The event, which was held on Thursday, kicked-off with an exhibition of 35 booths representing a range of the career opportunities available in Bermuda.Professionals in government, accounting, law, finance, banking, insurance, the medical field, education, engineering, social services, IT, hospitality, and many more turned out to provide career advice and a variety of goodies, as well as the unique experience for students to network with some of the Island’s biggest movers and shakers.Cheryl Packwood, CEO of Business Bermuda, said: “Too often much of the attention surrounding Bermuda’s youth is overwhelmingly negative. It was such a delight to be surrounded by over 250 of Bermuda’s brilliant future workforce. Many of the business professionals were pleasantly surprised to find that such a pool of high quality students are not only here in Bermuda but are seeking to make a positive contribution to their Island home.”She continued: “This type of interaction is exactly why Business Bermuda makes the effort to host this event every year. Not only do we want the students to have a launching pad for success but we want the professional community to know and understand what Bermuda’s future has to offer.The CSNE was even more suc“The CSNE was even more successful than I originally imagined, and I can’t wait to see what next year has to offer.”The exhibition was followed by two career seminars. The first, ‘Targeting the Top: Winning Ways for College and Career’, presented by Kim Fish of Ivy Consulting, provided students with valuable information on how to use their education for future success. The second, ‘Workplace Success is no Accident: Those at the Top Didn’t Fall There’, presented by Shirley Nosakhere-Fountain, provided the students with instruction on how to succeed in the workplace once they have been hired.In providing advice for the students based on her personal experience, Ms Nosakhere-Fountain said: “The only option I was given was that failure is not an option.”Student networker Rehana Packwood said: “I really liked the event and thought it was a good thing because I don’t know of many other events like the CSNE for me to go to. I learned that when you want to do something, sometimes you just have to do it, or make it happen for yourself, even if it’s not necessarily there for you to do.”Following the career seminars came an exciting round of speed networking. Each student was given the opportunity to speak one-on-one with 10 business professionals. Governor Sir Richard Gozney, and Premier Paula Cox were just two of the notable participants that students had the opportunity to network with. From CEOs to junior lever associates, the spectrum of Bermuda’s business community was represented at this year’s event.One speed networker said that she was not expecting to meet such a high calibre of students and was overwhelmingly impressed, so much so that she gave out all of her business cards.Lauren Mahoney of HSBC said: “It is the best event of the year. We have been involved for several years, and it just gets better and better. The students are more prepared and enthusiastic, and the scope just gets more polished.”William Maycock of Winchester Global Trust Ltd. said: “The speed networking was actually fun. I was very impressed by the drive and the polish of the students I spoke with.”William Madeiros of the Freisenbruch-Meyer Group said: “We were happy to be included in this event. The quality of the students was mind-blowing. I am very happy I have reached the stage of my career that I won’t have to be competing for jobs with this stellar group of students.”Volunteer Schinel Outerbridge said: “I am very glad that I had the opportunity to volunteer at the event this year. I think it was a very positive experience for the students as they had the opportunity to meet potential employers and make new business connections. The students are highly competitive, and it is obvious that many of them will go very far in life. I’m looking forward to next year already.”The competition for prizes was fierce, and Business Bermuda will be announcing the winners in the first week of August, following the Cup Match holiday.