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Big name firms are luring top graduates with elaborate freebies and attention-grabbing gimmicks at university career fairs.
Campus staff say employers are falling over themselves to secure stalls at such events, which have doubled in size and frequency over five years. From free food, backpacks, USB drives and petrol vouchers, to chances to win iPods or fancy meals, handouts are a memorable way to stand out in a competitive market.
Employers, including top overseas firms, were lining up to recruit earlier and earlier, said Victoria University career development and employment manager Liz Medford.
She said employers were desperate to secure top graduates early, in some cases playing up to students' social consciences, with gifts such as Fair Trade organic coffee. A law fair this month attracted 30 employers and more than 650 students.
"The university year only started in late February and they're already recruiting," Medford said.
IT firms tended to sweeten students with competition entries, while law and chartered accountancy firms were known for social evenings - such as the "law cruise" where future employees met graduates and employers.
March was a big month at Canterbury University, with an accounting and finance fair, and a flash evening do thrown by law recruiters. Student Association president Michael Goldstein said freebies were increasingly novel, such as the saplings given out by one law firm that "would grow like your career".
The university's annual engineering fair, in July, was attracting an increasing number of top overseas firms, said Canterbury careers and employment manager Chris Bridgman.
But the biggest career event is in May. It began as a one-day fair with 34 stalls in 2003 and by last year had grown to 113 stalls and two days. "This year, we are expecting at least 140-150," said Bridgman. "We haven't even started marketing it yet." Some departments were known for holding "boutique events" during the year, he said.
