Business Matchmaker Connects ‘Ambitious’ Students with ‘Accessible’ Employers

On Wednesday, May 4th, the Business Matchmaker event was held at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Zagreb. This year, the event was jointly organized by the Career Counseling and Development Office of EFZG and the student association eSTUDENT. 

The project, which combines speed dating and job interviews, allowed employers from 24 companies to meet final-year students of EFZG and find the perfect employee or intern for themselves, while providing students the opportunity to present themselves in the best light before successful employers.

What did this meeting of students and employers look like?

In the premises of EFZG, employers had the opportunity to meet students through six-minute job interviews, after which they could leave feedback in a designated application. Students who made the best impression were invited for a longer interview lasting fifteen minutes.

– I am particularly pleased that we organized the Business Matchmaker live at EFZG, and that 24 companies and 100 students had the opportunity to meet each other and find their business match. It is wonderful to network companies and students every year and see new collaborations being established – emphasized Paulina Lučić, head of the Career Counseling and Development Office.

– This is a large project whose organization is not simple, but we are happy with the response from companies as well as students. Everything went according to plan, and we got the impression that both companies and students are satisfied, and we are still waiting for feedback after the event – said Lea Juraić, head of the organizational team STARTER from eSTUDENT.

Both the organizational team and company representatives did not hide their enthusiasm for this year’s Business Matchmaker.

– In a relatively short period, we can see many candidates at once, which we probably wouldn’t be able to organize ourselves. It’s great that we get contacts from all students so we can follow up with those with whom we may not have been able to establish detailed communication today – said Nataša Cigula from Lemax.

Students felt similarly. Marina, a fifth-year student, is particularly pleased that the project encompasses all areas of economics, so various interesting companies are present, while Viktorija does not hide her satisfaction with the accessibility of company representatives, stating that all employers were ‘open, approachable, and pleasant’.

Sympathies were also coming from the other side of the tables where the interviews were held.

– It’s an excellent experience because it connects young, ambitious, and driven students who are a phenomenal potential for companies like Mazars. It’s great for us to hear their thoughts, what troubles them, and what challenges they face in choosing a career or redirecting their career for those who have already made some start – said Ružica Marta Ljubičić from Mazars.

It seems that the goal of the Business Matchmaker has been successfully fulfilled – good luck to all the established business pairs in their upcoming collaboration!