Three-thousand seventeen (3,017, with a goal of 3,000) visitors, 56 student volunteers (the largest volunteer group ever assembled at Bilkent), 1,332 filled-out questionnaires (the largest number ever completed at a University activity), and close to 2,000 job applications (to the surprise of the participating companies) - these are just a few numbers proving the success of the first event of Career Days.
All the companies participating in this year's Career Fair pledged to come back next year and they expressed their satisfaction with the organization by giving high ratings to the event in questionnaires they filled out. Asuman Selçuk of the State Planning Organization, one of the two state institutions represented at the Fair (the other was Turkish Radio and Television), stated that "it's to the Career Fair organization's credit that they invited the state institutions. It's a wonderful opportunity for university students to get to know more about the alternative of public sector jobs."
It was a dynamic and active environment for job hunters and the attendance was beyond organizers' expectations. Some companies suggested that the event be held in a larger facility next year, allowing larger stands for the companies.
Bilkent Radio broadcast live from the Fair throughout the day. Bilkent Radio members who participated were Kıvanç Kitapçı, Ümran Özer, Barın Kayaoğlu, Mine Özal, Umut Cambaz, and Serden Genç from the Alternative Department and Özgün Özbek, Serhat Keçeci, Selin Sepici, Tuba Güven, Eralp Delikkaya, Berrin Tenekecioğlu, and Esra Durceylan from the Public Relations Department.
"Students learned a lot from this activity," said Sibel Koral, an MBA student and Career Days organizer. "I hope there will be a bigger group of students participating next year."
"We have proved and achieved our goal of using student involvement to create good results," said Dean of Students Zeynep Köksal. "One of our responsibilities as the Dean of Students' Office is to educate students outside of classes and I believe we are on the right track during these Career Days to accomplish this goal."
