CUNEF Universidad hosts its largest career fair to date

From 19 to 22 October, CUNEF Universidad hosted the 22nd edition of the Employment Forum, the largest in its history both in terms of number of companies and student participation. Over 170 companies from 11 different industries engaged with more than 3,000 students from the university’s three schools: the School of Business, Economics and Law, the School of Engineering, and the Graduate and International Business School. The four-day event gave students the chance to explore internship and career opportunities, gain firsthand insight into recruitment processes, and engage with professionals and talent managers from industry-leading organisations.

Designed to bridge the gap between the classroom and the realities of the corporate world, the forum was structured around two complementary pillars. In the exhibition area, companies showcased their projects, desired profiles, and onboarding programmes. Meanwhile, a series of conferences and roundtable discussions addressed issues like technology, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship; finance and law; and public employment and international recruitment processes.

The strong turnout underscored the diverse professional ecosystem connected to the university. More than 170 participating companies from 11 different industries represented fields as varied as banking and financial services, tech and engineering, data science and mathematics, investment and asset management, consulting, auditing, legal services, consumer goods and luxury, insurance, HR, entrepreneurship, and the public sector.

Connecting talent with the corporate world

The programme featured a range of activities related to technology and STEM disciplines. Bernardo Quintero, Security Engineering Director at Google, opened the event with the conference “INFECTED: From Spectrum to Google, the Path of an Accidental Entrepreneur”, on Monday, 19 October, at the Almansa Campus. The session, hosted by Victoria López, Director of CUNEF Universidad’s School of Engineering, offered students a firsthand look at a career path driven by technology, cybersecurity, and entrepreneurship, three critical fields shaping the evolution of high-skilled employment.

Along the same lines, the School of Engineering hosted “How to Turn a Tech Idea into a Viable Business” on October 22. This session on tech entrepreneurship featured Álvaro Ayllón, co-founder and CEO of Maternify, and Borja Boada, alumnus and CEO of FUDEAT.

On 20 October, the focus shifted to economics, finance, and business degrees and their international scope. The discussion “Breaking into Finance: The Real Differences Between PE, IB and Asset Management” explored the different pathways into private equity, investment banking, and asset management alongside experts from J.P. Morgan, Portobello Capital, Nomura and BBVA Asset Management. “Would They Hire You? Inside the Minds of Top Recruiters”, with professionals from Accenture, LVMH Beauty Iberia and Universia, offered insights into what major employers value and how to build a competitive application in international recruitment processes.

The programme included two more roundtable discussions: “Big Law vs. Boutique vs. In-House: Real Career Paths” compared legal practice in large firms, specialised boutique firms and in-house legal departments, featuring professionals from A&O Shearman, Cases & Lacambra and Repsol. Following this, the discussion “From CUNEF Universidad to Entrepreneurship: Alumni Building Companies” showcased the journeys of graduates who have turned their ideas into business ventures such as Unlock Management, Maraca and Gourmeats, further strengthening the bond between the university’s alumni community and students.

The closing session, held at the Almansa Campus on 22 October, featured “Career Opportunities in the Public Sector Beyond Traditional Competitive Exams”, which analysed career paths linked to the State Attorney General’s Office, the Court of Auditors and economic internationalisation, broadening students’ perspectives on their professional development options.

Driving employability

The Employment Forum brought the needs, trends, and opportunities of today’s corporate landscape directly to the campus, while allowing companies to connect firsthand with the talent emerging from the university. Boasting a record turnout of over 3,000 students and 170 companies, this year’s edition established itself as the largest to date. This yearly exchange helps higher education to stay aligned with evolving market demands, enriching career guidance and facilitating a more informed transition from the classroom to the workplace. 

With this latest edition, CUNEF Universidad has underscored its commitment to an academic model connected to the business community and to the real challenges faced by organisations, a model where employability is built into the university experience from day one.

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