Carnegie Mellon’s annual Professional Day highlights the continuous efforts made to help students kick-start their careers

Aysha Fakhroo, a Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar computer science graduate and Application Manager at ExxonMobil, returned for the university’s Professional Day career and networking fair with an aim to hire skilled students who are currently enrolled. 

“Carnegie Mellon’s computer science program is world renowned,” Fakhroo said. “But, the university also provides a well-rounded education experience. Part of the experience included connecting students with potential employers and preparing them for the world after graduation.” 

“I was recruited by ExxonMobil as an undergraduate. Now, I have returned to Carnegie Mellon to recruit the intelligent and innovative students the university graduates.” 

Almost 50 companies from industries as varied as consumer goods, digital media and health care came to Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar on Wednesday, looking to hire the university’s talented students, especially those who will graduate next month. 

The event marked Carnegie Mellon Qatar’s 7^th annual Professional Day, but the evening represented the highlight of yearlong career development efforts undertaken by the university. 

“Over the last seven years, Carnegie Mellon Qatar has been connecting blue-chip companies with a pool of talented and driven students both on Professional Day and throughout their undergraduate years at Carnegie Mellon,” said Amy Walker, newly appointed director of career services, “Through the strength of our collaboration, we have nurtured high caliber students and alumni– young men and women who are intelligent, driven, professional and innovative.”           

During this year, many of those alumni returned to the university to help current students transform their education into professional success. 

Dana Haidan, head of corporate social responsibility at Vodafone Qatar, spoke to students recently about the importance of participating in extracurricular activities. Hamad International Airport’s Zaid Haque briefed potential employees on professional branding, and Shahriar Haque, a software engineer at GE, mentored aspiring computer scientists on trending subjects in the industry.

Carnegie Mellon Qatar’s continuous commitment to prepare students for the workplace stretches from résumé building to fashion tips. The cmBA business fashion show hosted last week showcased formal business outfits designed to help students impress potential employers. Also, the university’s ‘Making the Connection’ lecture series brings a diverse range of industry leaders to campus to speak to students about career paths available in their organization. 

“Through working together and building on past relationships, Carnegie Mellon Qatar and businesses can continue to create the next generation of leaders. Our efforts are continuously reaffirmed by the quality of new companies seeking to tap in to Carnegie Mellon’s talent pool,” Walker added. 

Companies attending Carnegie Mellon’s Professional Day in 2013 for the first time included: Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros. Co. W.L.L., Al Faisal Holding, Barclays, Citi, Doha News, Forbes Associates, Hamad Medical Corporation, Hill+Knowlton, ILoveQatar.Net, Nestle, Qatar Fuel Additives Co. and Qatar Insurance Company. 

HSBC’s head of commercial banking, Fadi Fattal, elaborated on why the bank recruits at Carnegie Mellon Qatar: “HSBC has been in the local market for over 50 years. We have a commitment to the community to develop local talent - it is part of our strategy,” Fattal said.

Carnegie Mellon’s Professional Day career and networking fair provides an opportunity for students to meet face-to-face with private and public companies from a wide array of sectors in Qatar, throughout the region and from around the world. 

Companies who returned to Professional Day in 2013 included: Al Jazeera Network, Aspire Zone, Commercial Bank, Credit Suisse, Doha Bank, Doha Film Institute, Enterprise Qatar, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Google, Gulf Talent, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, ICTQatar, iHorizons, KPMG, Michael Page International, Microsoft, Oryx GTL, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Qatar Airways, Qatar Computing Research Institute, Qatar Development Bank, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Gas, Qatar Mobility Innovations Center, Qatar Museums Authority, Qatar Petroleum, RasGas, Shell, Sidra Medical & Research Center, Standard Chartered, Tasweeq and Williams Advanced Engineering.