On September 21, during a class in the Civil Engineering building, Afonso Geraldes smelled popcorn. Intrigued by the smell, the 3rd-year Mining and Energy Resources Engineering student got together with two friends at the end of the class and tried to find out where the smell came from.

They quickly realised that it came from the “Coffee with Career Center” event that was taking place on the first floor of the Civil Engineering building from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event arose from a need to reach the students who usually take part in the Career Center activities. According to Beatriz Mendes, coordinator of the Business Partnerships Unit – “students are often unaware that the Career Center activities they take part in are part of a larger whole”, which are held during the entire semester aiming to prepare students for the job market. These include activities such as workshops on how to properly prepare a curriculum vitae, as well as company presentations and visits.

During the event, students had the opportunity to find out about the initiatives scheduled for this semester and to find out more about Job Bank, the application through which they can register for these activities.

After catching up on all this, Afonso’s attention turned to one of the tables set up in the atrium, with a ‘wheel of fortune’, where the participants could try their luck and win gifts. Coveting a Técnico shirt, he tried his luck, but the winner was another student. With a resigned smile, he said he was particularly interested in a leaflet he received titled ‘Entrepreneurship & Innovation’. “I don’t want to work for someone else. I’d rather learn how to apply the knowledge I gained at Técnico to my own projects,” he says. He also says he’s curious about the “Breakfast with Companies” event, because the idea of a breakfast conversation “sounds like something more informal, where communication with companies would be easier”.

Before leaving for his next class, he highlights “I think this event is a good initiative to find out what support there is and what choices we have”.