For the second stop of the NYLON Manila Career Fair, we headed over to the University of the Philippines Diliman. Wondering what went down? We got you.
Related: DLSU Takeover: Highlights from the First Leg of NYLON Manila’s Career Fair 2024
The 2024 NYLON Manila Career Fair: University Takeover started out strong at the De La Salle University, and the energy, enthusiasm, and eagerness to learn carried over as we headed to our second stop of the Fair at the University of the Philippines Diliman!
With a series of informational and inspirational talks, panels, and games—as well as booths where students can score goodies—the Career Fair sought to arm UP students with knowledge regarding career paths and navigating a whole world beyond their studies.
On September 26, NYLON Manila, in partnership with student organization UP Advertising Core (UP AdCore), brought the four-stop Career Fair to UPD. At the UP School of Statistics, we embarked on a journey to let college students know about the myriad of opportunities available to them and to, hopefully, help guide them before they set off on their chosen career paths. Curious about what goes on at NYLON Manila Career Fairs? Here’s a recap from the UP leg of the University Takeover.
TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS
Before the main program started, the booths outside the auditorium opened, and students from all courses and walks of life explored booths from Bioten, Cetaphil and Benzac, AGC Power Holdings Corp. Human Resources, and of course, NYLON Manila ourselves.
Bioten’s calming booth adorned with greenery and their skincare products for a fresh glow often had cheers coming from it as students tried their hand at the lucky draw to win fun prizes. They made their way around the products and learned some tips about how to take care of their skin at this quite stressful time in their lives.
Cetaphil and Benzac—no stranger to school tours, if we may add—also highlighted the need for taking care of ourselves and addressing skin issues like acne with their top-of-the-line products. On their big mirror, students were encouraged to write messages and tips of their own! “Embrace you,” one message read. “If you want to give light to others,” another read. “You have to glow yourself.”
As the students strolled up to our booth find out more about the NYLON Manila MyZine (and to score their own), they got a firsthand look at how they can take the MyZine into their own hands and tailor it to their needs, tastes, and preferences. They were also delighted at the very student-friendly prices of the MyZine packs and the fun, interactive, and customizable aspect of the whole thing. The MyZine also becomes a great metaphor for how students can go as wild and imaginative as they want with their plans after college and their career.
WORDS OF WISDOM
The program kicked off with a warm-up Kahoot! game about the day’s events to invigorate everyone before all the talks started. One winner took home a Sunnies Flask! Then, revving things up, UP Diliman graduate, content creator, and actress Rain Matienzo began the program and asked students what exactly they were curious about that may be tackled at the Career Fair. UP AdCore also took the stage to let everyone know about how they’re navigating the world creatively and with purpose.
First to take the stage was content creator and recent UP Los Baños BA Communication Arts graduate Yani Villarosa, who recounted her own struggles as someone who was balancing academics and content creation.
Boasting quite a unique experience, content creators decide to embark on this journey while still juggling other responsibilities—and it’s become an attractive career option for people all over the nation and the world. Yani emphasized that regardless of whether you’re in school or at work, “our well-being should be a priority, not an afterthought.”
Dermatologist Dr. Bea Chan bounced off the point of well-being and self-care as she talked about how our skin often suffers from a lot of harsh factors, like stress, blue light from our screens, and more. No matter how important you think SPF is, it’s even more important, y’all!
After a quick Kahoot! game, management consultant, transformational coach, and co-founder of Epiphany Collective PH Eric Cruz discussed how we all can be Big, Bold, and Brave as we mentally prepare ourselves for the workplace—by valuing confidence, authenticity, and a sense of clarity.
Next, Career Counsellor and Director of Academic and Student Affairs at the SoFA Institute Mads Constantino dropped some truth bombs and words of wisdom that can shift a perspective so powerfully. “Just like Tetris, if you fit in,” she says. “You will disappear.” Her talk on success, salary, the value of experience, and how to organize your priorities was an enlightening masterclass on blazing through the world with faith and confidence in yourself.
Lastly, Brand Associate Bianca Lao and Features Writer Nica Glorioso led a panel Q&A all about how to prepare for job applications and embarking on your first job. Joining HR Representatives Dennise Rialp, Jenny Brutas, and Head of HR Mairen Buan were Modern Media Group Inc. Chief Operating Officer Anne Bernisca and Head of Operations Nikki Balboa, as well as AGC Power Holdings’ Chief of Staff Ene Lagunzad.
From advice on how to make an impact during the application process (make sure to do proper research about the company you’re applying for!) and how to deal with the stress of a new, high-pressure work environment (don’t be too hard on yourselves, and be ready to deal with different kinds of people), the insights from people who have seen a lot across the board are nuggets of gold for people who have yet to start their careers.
HAUL TIME
To test students’ knowledge of everything about careers, first jobs, corporate lingo and systems, their own university, and NYLON Manila, another Kahoot! game was held—and the competition was fierce. The three fastest and most accurate participants earned themselves a Sunnies Flask and a HelloLulu bag.
But we couldn’t let all of the students go without some highly-coveted goodie bags to remember the event by! Each participant went home with a NYLON Manila tote bag loaded with gifts from Cetaphil, Solasta Jewelry, Sunnies Face, and ARTernative Art Supplies.
ARMED AND READY (HOPEFULLY)
Before things ended, Rain hosted a final panel Q&A session with the speakers, where students got the chance to ask about things like negotiating a better salary (Mads advises to be very clear with asking what the company can offer) and navigating leadership and the workplace at a young age (don’t dismiss the value of a good team).
As we wrapped up at UPD, students from different disciplines hopefully learned a thing or two about preparing for the next stage in their lives. It’ll take a lot of work, but preparing to be open to all sorts of opportunities and challenges and taking the initiative to learn (like, say, from a Career Fair) is a good start.
If you missed out on the first two legs of our Takeover, don’t fret. For the next and third stop of the NYLON Manila Career Fair: University Takeover, we’re headed to the other side of Katipunan! Get ready Blue Eagles, because on September 30, we’re off to the Ateneo de Manila University. See you at Escaler Hall!
Continue Reading: From School Bells To Career Calls: Your Sneak Peek At This Year’s NYLON Manila Career Fair
