Career expos, events and workshops
Our Employability Lab hosts a number of events for AUT students, including career expos and presentations where you can meet employers and hear about job opportunities. We also run regular career development workshops and recruitment events.
Workshops and employer presentations
Employers are on AUT's campuses almost every week, participating in lunchtime or leadership speaker series, industry panels, and talks about potential employment within their organisation, including internship and graduate opportunities.
Past presenters include Buddle Findlay, JW Marriot, KiwiRail, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, the Ministry of Primary Industries, NIWA, Samsung Electronics NZ, MYOB, Deloitte, BNZ, NZME, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Counties Manukau DHB, and AR/VR Garage.
A leader’s insights about their career journey can be very powerful and offer a lot of inspiration and aspiration as they talk about how they faced challenges and made the most of situations.
AUT attracts a diverse and interesting number of speakers, including:
- 'Girls That Invest' podcaster and founder Simran Kaur
- Media personality and te reo advocate Stacey Morrison
- North Harbour Basketball Director of Talent Development Vince Minjares
- Counties Manukau CEO Margie Apa (now CE of Health NZ)
- Central Auckland and Green Party MP Chloe Swarbrick
- Start-up entrepreneur Scott Cardwell
Many AUT graduates return to AUT to talk to students about their experiences in the workplace.
This is a great way to hear about the transition into the workplace and pick up tips about how to approach an organisation and what employment is like in the ‘real world’.
Industry experts and graduates are invited to join industry panels that offer students in-depth understanding of specific industry needs, expectations and challenges. The panel discussions always offer lively and interesting insights into their industries.
Science, ICT, business, hospitality, art & design, tourism and engineering representatives have all participated on industry panels at AUT in the past couple of years.
AUT Employability and Careers runs a daily schedule of workshops, including CV and cover letter writing, networking, interview practice and job search skills etc. We also run faculty workshops designed to help you prepare for specific employer events and career fairs.
Faculty workshops
These are intensive practical workshops that are tailored for your faculty and cover themes including how to research employers in your industry, and effective ways to network. Industry speakers usually present or participate in panel sessions. The workshops also offer tips on CVs, LinkedIn profiles and creating your elevator pitch. Workshops are run on campus or online.
Career expos and event series
During the academic year we host a number of bigger, specialist events that employers eagerly attend wanting to meet potential employees. These events are an excellent opportunity for you to network with prospective employers and get information about organisations.
Career expos offer valuable real-time contact with employers from some of New Zealand's leading businesses and entrepreneurial organisations.
Career expos are faculty-specific, bringing large numbers of employers onto campus on a single day.
Top employers and industry leaders come onto campus keen to interact with students, offer advice and talk about the career opportunities in their industries.
Employers are at stands where students can approach them to discuss graduate roles and internship possibilities. This is a stress free way for you to mix and network with employers. The expos attract corporates, startups, government agencies and health organisations, among others. Many students successfully secure roles through career expos and other events.
2025 expos
Semester 1
March
- Business and Law Career Expo - Thursday 13 March
- ICT and Engineering Career Expo - Thursday 27 March
May
- Community and Public Sector Career Expo - Thursday 8 May
Semester 2
July
- Science Career Expo - Thursday 31 July
September
- Hospitality, Tourism, Events & Culinary Arts Career Expo - Tuesday 23 September
How to register
Registration for these events through Elab Online.
Not used Elab Online before? It’s easy. Log in as a ‘current student’ using your AUT student ID and password, then search in Events for the workshops or career fairs you are interested in.
Other events
Employers are always on the look out for potential employees. Even if they're not doing a graduate recruitment drive, they often book a presentation to talk about their industry and business. This gives them an opportunity to meet students like yourself to find out what you're doing and have to offer, while giving you insights into their world.
The volunteering expo opens up opportunities for students to explore volunteering options available across many charities. Organisations that attend include StarJam, Hato Hone St John, Conservation Volunteers NZ, Cancer Society Auckland/Northland, Mercy Hospice Te Korowai Atawhai, Everybody Eats, MOTAT, Recreate NZ and Motuihe Trust. The expo runs each semester.
Volunteering is strongly encouraged by Employability and Careers as a great way for students to build up workplace skills, learn about their community, improve confidence – and give back. Both our employability awards – AUT Edge and Beyond AUT awards – require volunteering hours.
Volunteering Expo 2025 – TBA
Volunteering and leadership awards (AUT Edge Award and Beyond AUT Award)
How to register
Registration for this event will open soon through Elab Online.
Not used Elab Online before? It’s easy. Log in as a ‘current student’ using your AUT student ID and password, then search in Events for the workshops or career fairs you are interested in.
Visiting workplaces adds another level to learning about career pathways and employment. Over the year, our employability relationship managers help organise site visits to workplaces including BDO, Rocketwerkz, JW Marriot, Microsoft, Ports of Auckland and EY.
Why participate in these events? Read our blog
Check out our employability blog for great tips and stories about how career expos and other events helped other students find inspiration and their dream role.
Contact us
Drop into the Employability Lab or email us:
employability@aut.ac.nz
Locations on campus
Visit us at the Employability Lab at the City Campus in WA202.
We're also available at our other campuses by appointment only. Book at Elab Online
Do an AUT employability award
Want to stand out to the employers you can meet at these event? With the AUT Edge and Beyond AUT Awards you gain an extra edge in the competitive marketplace.