>> It's a really competitive world, especially in Brussels because it's a very small environment. Although there are so many opportunities there are so many people that are really hungry for a really great position.

>> Towards the end then you start thinking what I'm going to do next, what I'm going to do next.

>> There are about 70 applicants that applied as well.

>> There's a lot of competition once you finish your studies, you never know whether you are good enough.

>> There were 27,000 applicants and the places were only 100. 

>> People are amazingly qualified, they speak so many languages so you always have to actually shine among them, and that's very, very difficult.

Mona Shair-Wloch
>> There are many universities here in Brussels and students from all over Europe and even the rest of the world who would like to seek opportunities in various organisations. Eighty to ninety per cent of these opportunities are in the hidden job market.

>> The advantage that we have at BSIS that we have great connections to the top organisations, we prepare the students with their application documents and we also provide them with networking opportunities where they get to learn about everything on the hidden job market. So that's what really I would say makes BSIS stand out. 

>> Once every semester we have something we call a networking event. The idea is to inform the students of these hidden job opportunities by having them meet people from different sectors from EU institutions to NGOs to consultancies. And they are there to help the students get information on how to access the job market, more information about their organisations and we have alumni (former students) who are also coming back to reconnect with the university, reconnect with the students and the students are thrilled to have the chance to meet these people. So really everything a student would like to know but they never have the chance to find out.

Alex Lazarou
>> I've done two internships here in Brussels, United Nations Regional Information Center for Western Europe and also Weber Shandwick, a public relations firm. It's a lot about who you know, a little bit less what you know as well, but a combination of the two. So you actually do have to put yourself out there and meet a variety of different people to actually get something in the long run. BSIS definitely does help out with that.

Cornelia Schiemann
>> I graduated from BSIS in 2008. I did an LLM in International Law with International
Relations. This school has many programmes to help students to get into the Brussels job market after school. And also during school they are always open to get you in touch with people who can be very interesting for your further career.


Chris Halburd
>> I had 22 years’ experience in a law firm, I’d been a partner in a law firm for 15 years and I'd sat on a very large board in Australia but I hadn't ever really written a CV. So really fundamental things like how to write a CV, how to write a letter of motivation, and very specifically how to write a CV and a letter of motivation tailored to the Brussels market is something that I got from the classes that I took the BSIS.

Auset Mitchell
>> I saw that there was a paid internship through Nike and it sounded intriguing to me so I look at the position description and I felt that I fit into what they were looking for. Actually, the workshops that Mona does with regards to the cover letter, the interviewing and networking really played a role in how I fastened my application for this internship.

Mona Shair-Wloch
>> The students are aware of how lucky they are because they have the opportunity to ask questions about how to enter a certain job market, what they need in terms of qualifications, what kind of skills are required for various jobs, and these things cannot be found on the internet. They cannot be found when looking at a certain organisation from the outside, it's by talking to people who are in the jobs who are living it day in day out that they get a better idea of whether that career path is something that will match their strengths, their skills their interests, their background and their values.

>> We're building a very good reputation here in the University of Kent in Brussels because we have excellent students, we attract a very interesting student body that are very motivated and come from different backgrounds and then the academic part is very solid very found and on top of that we provide them with all of these skills that they need to access the job market.

Samer Ibrahim Abu Rass
>> BSIS I think it does a great job of raising the profile of their students. There's always internal emails going around offering internships and jobs. All of my friends with whom I did my Master's degree, they got a job either in Brussels or elsewhere. Some of them are on commissions and some are in somewhere in Africa, a friend in Uganda, I have another one in Paris now. So I have to say that in general people manage to find jobs after having done a couple of internships here and there.

Nilofar Kayhan
>> When I first came in to BSIS I felt almost instantly prepared because it was a combination of things. We had certain workshops that were available to us that helped us with career advice, interviewing skills, resume skills. Briefing for what's out there in the professional world and what kind of skills were necessary to integrate ourselves into the professional side of things. It helped me feel very confident in putting my skills out there, it's the practicality of the everyday world of International Affairs that we’re trying to be a part of.

Michel Chiappini
>> BSIS has a very good reputation in Brussels. Everybody knows BSIS and everybody says it's a good university. I think employers regard, very well, candidates from BSIS because the preparation amd background in their studies.

Mona Shair-Wloch

>> Those students that really put it in their minds to find a job they will BSIS has recognised something very important. It has recognised that it is not only essential to have an excellent academic qualification but that is all about connecting the student body beyond the university. Connecting them to actors in the field of interest, to all of our students, whether it be from law to migration studies, international relations, IPE (International Political Economy). And that's what makes University of Kent in Brussels very special.