While the initiative is an annual event, the Study UK Alumni Career Day 2021, on account of the ongoing pandemic, took place entirely online, bringing together alumni, recent graduates, and even current students with leading employers like HSBC, BukaLapak, Lazada, and Indosat on March 20.

A series of webinars took place in the run-up to the event from March 15 to 20. Titled “The Road to the Study UK Virtual Career Day”, speakers from diverse industry backgrounds shared their experiences, including Djauhari Sitorus, Head of Project Management at the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister; Novi Imelda, Chief Investment Officer of Prudential; and Tendy Gunawan, Programme Officer at the International Labour Organization.

Access to the Study UK Virtual Career Day was as simple as filling in an online form, after which a link was emailed to the attendees. A click on the link took them to the online platform Interchange.

During the event, attendees were able to tune in to the main stage to watch the day’s webinars, which included topics like how to create a professional CV, preparing for an online interview, and finding a job in 2021.

While the webinars were also livestreamed on the British Council’s YouTube channel, attendees were able to ask questions directly through the Q&A feature.

Alongside the webinars, jobseekers were also able to make use of virtual booths from the employers present, where they could engage in a virtual consultation with the hiring team of each company. Networking was also made possible with the ability to message each attendee directly, with user profiles allowing them to embed their LinkedIn profiles.

Education in the UK attracts around 3,000 Indonesian students each year. Even so, the virtual career day was also open to students from all backgrounds, opening the doors for even more.

British Council Indonesia Director Hugh Moffatt said in a statement that UK degrees gave students more than just an outstanding academic qualification.

“They are also designed to help students to build new skills, make new contacts and apply their learning in a professional environment. I am confident that a UK degree will help you to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market.”

In a statement received by The Jakarta Post, British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Owen Jenkins said the country took tremendous pride in knowing that they supported the ambitions of individuals from across the world.

“We are so proud that many Indonesians have chosen to study with us. UK universities teach you in a way that nurtures creativity, innovation, critical, independent thinking, analytical and leadership skills – all of which employers the world over are looking for.”

He also noted that Indonesians who were UK alumni could also serve as a cultural bridge between countries, facilitating mutual understanding, cooperation and exciting new joint ventures through their experiences.

“We hope that each will maintain their connection with the UK and continue to promote engagement between our countries. But most of all – to our great alumni – we hope you will share your talent and drive with those around you, and encourage and inspire others to reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams,” he said.

Certainly, the Study UK Virtual Career Day brought many benefits to jobseekers all around, but employers also noticed the benefits on their end.

Muhammad Inbar, recruiter for Ice House, said he thought the event was particularly beneficial for professionals who would like to start or improve their career.

“There are many insights from speakers that we can learn from, and it also is a chance for participants to engage directly with employers.”

Meanwhile, Indriarni Pramaning, Assistant Manager Employer Branding for Unilever Indonesia, noted that the initiative was a good fit for scouting talent and building networks for UK Graduates.

“I like how they embedded the job fair with virtual sharing sessions from reputable speakers. So, the jobseeker will get both opportunities and knowledge at once,” she said.

Floribertus Pramidanarto, VP Learning & Talent Development at HSBC Indonesia, highlighted the positive impact of holding the initiative during the pandemic.

“I think it's a good initiative to conduct this kind of event in the midst of a pandemic, thus facilitating or bridging job hunters with representatives from various industries and companies. I understand that there are some technical difficulties, yet it is something acceptable for the first event that could be improved for the next events.”

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