KZN Counselling and Career Development Unit inspires students to think ahead

Unisa’s KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Counselling and Career Development Unit presented a two-day Career Fair on 10 and 11 April 2025. The fair acted as a bridge, bringing students from the Durban and Pietermaritzburg campuses in touch with career prospects.

Students attending the Career Fair in Pietermaritzburg

A career fair is not merely a run-of-the-mill exhibition. It is a meeting place where in-house support departments, firms, and organisations come together and exchange useful information regarding different professional paths, internship opportunities, and careers. For students, it offers a great chance to learn about numerous industries, obtain first-hand exposure to employers' expectations, and start developing professional networks which could well establish their future successes.

This year's fair saw an astounding gathering of internal and external stakeholders. There were 18 external exhibitors in Durban, which included some of the top companies and professional organisations, who came together with five internal Unisa departments and services, attracting 340 students. In Pietermaritzburg, there were 13 external companies and seven internal Unisa stakeholders who greeted 224 students at their offices.

The message echoing across the event was the necessity of self-awareness when making career choices. As most students utilise the Unisa application portal, there is generally an unconscious assumption that they have taken time to determine their natural strengths, true interests, and core values. The fair brought to light a common trend — a tendency to skip this initial "self-awareness" process and proceed directly to applications. This can unconsciously guide students down paths that are not reflective of their true selves. Taking the time to reflect on what one wants to achieve can be a key to building a successful and satisfying career.

Students attending the Career Fair in Durban

These fairs form part of the general development of the students. They act as catalysts to find new professional choices that one had no idea even existed, to learn precisely those skills and qualifications that are demanded by employers, and to establish positive rapport with the professionals who practise in the real world.

Students left not just with informative brochures and worthy contact information, but with a feeling of purpose and direction. The 2025 Career Fair bears testament to the necessity of building bridges between the realm of study and the ever-changing realm of employment. For the students of Unisa KwaZulu-Natal, tomorrow is not merely an afterthought to be pondered with dread — it is a reality to be mapped out, so that they can greet it confidently, and define their own destinies.

* By Mxolisi Nxumalo, Communications Intern: KwaZulu-Natal Region, with input from ChatGPT