Careers in everything from engineering, plumbing and cabling to IT and graphic design and even hairdressing will be showcased at the Bermuda International Business Association 11th annual College Student Networking Event (CSNE) next week.

The event, which is entitled 'Meet Your Career' and will be held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess on Friday July 10, will focus on technical careers for the first time since its inception, with the likes of Allied Workforce Solutions, the Ascendant Group of Companies (Belco, Bermuda Gas and PureNERGY Renewables) and HWP Group on hand to offer advice to students.

Participants will have the chance to meet with industry professionals in accounting, legal, banking and finance, investments, trust, fund administration, hospitality, IT, telecommunications, Government, advertising/marketing, insurance and technical trade; 'speed network' and get some tips from recruitment experts on career direction.

Last year, 200 students and 200 professionals attended the event with a higher turnout expected this time round.

Kerry Judd, general manager of Aardvark Communications, who has been organising the event, said it was an opportunity to set straight a misconception people had that BIBA represented only international companies, but also local businesses which support the international business sector.

"Our message is pure and simple — regardless of what your career choices are, you have got to be properly trained," she said.

"By forging a career with a business that supports international companies, you play a role in the success of international business and the economy.

"And with a technical career, there is no one tier, two tier and it is not white collar versus blue collar — it can be in many different businesses."

Most people's perception of technical careers are in the construction industry, but there are also opportunities to become an engineer, electrician, mechanic, plumber, IT consultant or technician, graphic or web designer or even a hairdresser or beauty salon specialist, according to Ms Judd.

"It really spans across quite arrange of opportunities," she said.

"People tend to defer automatically to construction, but it includes so much more.

"It is going to take more than just one event and one organisation and its members to get the message out — it needs to be told by schools, Government, industry, other organisations and the business community at large."

Ms Judd said that companies are always seeking Bermudians who will show up on time, are willing to work and are really interested in their chosen career path and not just there to pick up a pay cheque at the end of the day, and they will provide the necessary training and development to them in return.

She said businesses were also keen to recruit individuals who were not only good with their hands, but had the basic skills of reading, writing, arithmetic and computer literacy.

"They are going to be interacting with some of the leaders in the technical trade in Bermuda and they may just make the connection with someone who might help them with their career path," she said.

"This is not a typical career fair — it is about networking and relationship building and future opportunities."

Jenny Smatt-Adkins, group senior vice-president of human resources at the Ascendant Group Ltd., said that her umbrella of companies had much more to offer than a straightforward career in engineering or as a mechanic, such as working in renewable energy, gas and environmental projects.

"There are other careers that are just as viable," she said.

"It is about making sure that people's interests and long-term goals are aligned to their career choice — there are many options that an individual in that area can choose from."

Ms Smatt-Adkins said that all three companies in the group, Belco, Bermuda Gas and PureNERGY, were always on the lookout for talented and innovative graduates, and offered a number of scholarships and educational awards, as well as its Engineer in Training professional programme, which supports them through their chartered engineering designation, and the Llewelyn Vorley Scholarship.

At the event, students will be able to 'speed network' one-to-one with about 10 professionals for three minutes each, while there will also be three HR seminars by Expertise Ltd., comprising 'Presenting Yourself in The Competitive Market', looking at resume writing techniques, presenting yourself for a lasting impression and successful networking tips, 'Reality Check — Owning Your Role in the Workplace', focusing on responsibilities versus rights and making sure you have what it takes to be successful, and 'Technical Careers', which will provide an overview of technical careers available in Bermuda.

Among the organisations present at the event will be the Electrical Association, the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies, the Bermuda Hospitals Boards, the Student Law Association and the Massage Therapy Association, as well as companies representing the technical sector.

The CSNE runs between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., with registration from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and opening remarks and keynote address at 5.30 p.m., followed by speed and general networking sessions and HR seminars from 6 p.m. onwards, while exhibitors will be on show throughout the event.

For more information visit BIBA's website at www.biba.org