The first annual seminar for students seeking employment in the international business sector hosted last Tuesday by Centre Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd. and the Bermuda Foundation for Insurance Studies (BFIS) was hailed as a great success by organisers.

Twenty eight Bermudian college students ranging from freshmen to graduates participated in the one day programme.

The morning was filled with presentations on resume writing, interview skills, `what to wear' and business etiquette.

In the afternoon 15 Centre staff members, plus some BFIS Members, volunteered their time to helped the students put their new skills into practice by giving them `mock interviews'.

Each student received a feedback sheet outlining areas they should improve on before their next job or scholarship interview.

After the interview, one student said: "I felt a little nervous about interviewing, but it went better than I expected.

"I learned to be more confident with myself."

When they weren't being interviewed, the students received one-on-one feedback from a team of resume experts, who had reviewed each of their resumes in advance in order to provide the students with constructive analysis.

"When my resume was reviewed, they found mistakes that I had never noticed. I now know to get someone else to look over it before I hand it in to anyone," said one student upon finishing her personal resume review session.

Assistant human resource manager for Centre, Rusheika Furbert, who helped co-ordinate the seminar, and was one of the presenters during the morning session, said: "This seminar gave Centre an excellent opportunity to give back to the community by giving students a chance to learn or enhance vital skills needed for securing a place in this competitive workforce.

"Too many times we see individuals who are technically qualified to do a job but they do not know how to present themselves in a professional manner. It was wonderful to see 28 students take part in this seminar designed to bridge this gap."

Jennifer Lapsley, human resource assistant, the second presenter and co-coordinator, feels that the success of this event truly proves how necessary it was.

"I was so pleased with the number of students who attended, and the overwhelming response was that it was an extremely useful day for each and everyone of them.

"I think that after seeing the success of this inaugural Seminar, we are definitely going to try and make it an annual event."