A HORDE of college students jumped at an opportunity to impress their future employers recently.

Students aspiring to pursue careers in international business turned out in record numbers at the Bermuda International Business Association's (BIBA) Second Annual College Student Networking Event.

Young people were encouraged to attend the event held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute to meet with industry representatives from the fields of accounting, E-commerce, finance, hospitality, information technology, insurance, investment management, law, marketing and telecommunications.

BIBA chief executive officer Pat Phillip-Bassett said the event was designed to help students foster better relationships between themselves and the people in their related fields.

BIBA's local marketing committee chairman Dueane Dill added that the event was designed to teach students how to network.

He said: "The other reason we have this event is because the networking skill needs to be developed, and if we can help young people before the interview process, they will be one step ahead in the future.'' Mrs. Phillip-Bassett added:"I don't think a lot of students network and that's an important part of business.'' The event proved to be as successful as last year's inaugural occasion when twice as many students showed up than were expected.

This year, 25 percent of the 130 students who showed up had not pre-registered.

Mr. Dill said he was pleased with the turnout and added: "The response has been positive.'' And he noted that industry representatives were as excited about the event as the students and did not mind volunteering their time.

"There is a great excitement among industry representatives. They have volunteered their time here showing that they are anxious to meet young bright Bermudians.

"This dispels the myth that employers want to employ non-Bermudians because they are here encouraging young bright Bermudians to come up and meet their potential employers.'' And he said last year's event met with a great deal of positive feedback.

"There have been many success stories from last year of students who were in their last year of university, met with their future employers, followed up and are now working with them.'' George Morton, an industry representative who is an Underwriting Analyst at Overseas Partners Reinsurance Ltd. noted that the event was a good opportunity for young Bermudians.

He said it was more challenging for him to find employment after university.

"When I came back about ten years ago, it was like, `hit the streets'.

"So, this is a great opportunity for young people to immediately be able to participate in an environment where number one, it's not overwhelming and it's also informal and employers are on a neutral ground.

"Employers have come and are sharing their own personal experiences,'' he continued.

Bermuda College student Crystal Richardson said she was interested in law and attended the event to gain more information about the field.

"I wanted to enhance my knowledge on the legal profession. I found what I have learned to be very informative.''