Sweets, Merch, and Career Advice

The HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences has held an event for master’s students, applicants, graduates, and major employers. Visitors to the corporate stands in the atrium of the building on Pokrovsky Bulvar could learn about available internships, participate in intellectual activities, talk to former students and current representatives of employers, and discuss the prospects of specific career tracks. Students from various HSE University programmes and other universities took part in the event.

A Festival of Career Guidance

The event was held in a new format for the Faculty of Economic Sciences, blending a traditional job fair and internships with intellectual entertainment from prospective employers and career advice from faculty graduates. The participants could receive personal advice and recommendations from those already in the process of building their career paths.

This format of communication, where graduates share first-hand information and career secrets, significantly increased interest in the event, said Vladimir Karacharovskiy, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences for Communication with Applicants, Alumni, and Employers.

‘Major employers often seem like behemoths to students, like impregnable fortresses. Graduates can help students get in the door and share how to build a successful career,’ he noted. This approach not only attracts more people, but also increases confidence in post-university employment opportunities, said the deputy dean.

He also highlighted various activities prepared by each company participating in the event. ‘Traditional pies and tea, cotton candy from Sovcombank, and a buffet from Avito with pizza and other treats only spurred on the search for answers to career questions and definitely made an impression on everyone,’ said Vladimir Karacharovskiy.

Internships, Tips, and Merch

Sber, the Bank of Russia, DOM.RF, Gazprombank, Avito, Soglasie, Absolut Bank, KROK, hh.ru, Sovcombank, VTB, Kept, Russian Railways, Unilever Rus, TeDo, Business Solutions and Technologies, and B1 organised stands and activities at the event. Company representatives advised students on internships and career opportunities, talked about the specifics of their company's work, and gave out branded merchandise and treats.

For example, representatives of Russian Railways provided detailed consultations on the benefits and career opportunities at one of the largest companies in the country. Sovcombank treated the guests to cotton candy, offered to answer specially prepared questions, and awarded branded merch—coffee, patches and key chains— to the winners of a quiz. Guests could also fill out an application for an internship at the bank. At the VTB stand, visitors could enjoy some chocolate, get unique career advice, and take part in a quiz.

Representatives of hh.ru introduced students to their service, showing them where to find internships, registering applicants, and handing out souvenirs of chocolate bars, card holders, and patches. Unilever Rus gave out backpacks with branded products to guests who filled out a CV form. Gazprombank prepared puzzles that students could solve to win merch.

Technologies of Trust (TeDo) awarded books on self-development and business promotion to guests who posted on social media with a certain hashtag. ‘We have many different directions, so any HSE student will be able to find something that interests them. Don't be afraid to try new things. You won't know if a field fits you until you try,’ said Anastasia Smirnova, brand development specialist at the company.

Absolut Bank treated attendees to coffee, which helped them solve difficult career puzzles. Sber held two quizzes with branded gifts for guests. Students also received advice on career opportunities at the stands of the Bank of Russia, DOM.RF, Avito, Soglasie, KROK, Kept, and Unilever Rus. Each of the partner companies invited students to learn more about internships and career prospects.

First-Hand Advice

Graduates of the faculty now working at the Bank of Russia, VTB, Gazprombank, Unilever Rus, KROC, DRT, Trust Technologies, Avito, SC Consent, B1, Kept, hh.ru, and other large companies spoke to anyone who wanted individual advice.

Nadezhda Vikulova, a graduate of the faculty who now works as a corporate account manager at KROK, stressed the importance of thinking outside the traditional hiring process, because a CV alone is not always enough to stand out from the crowd. ‘Companies always have additional options, such as demo day programmes or open houses. I would try to network at these events as much as possible,’ she recommended. ‘This way, you can prove yourself and demonstrate your soft skills. They’ll see the fire in your eyes and your willingness to work.’

It is important to customise your CV for a specific position and understand that it cannot be universal, added Nadezhda.

Graduates also gave advice on how to pass a job interview, which is often a source of concern for aspiring professionals. According to the graduates, the most important thing is to show one’s thinking and commitment to work.

‘In an interview, you should be sincere and talk about your interests—you don't need to make something up,’ said Vladislav, an FES graduate who currently works at the Internal Treasury Department of Gazprombank. ‘The most important things are logical thinking and adequacy.’

‘If you don't know the answer to a question, you at least need to answer with something, since it’s important for the employer to see the logic of a student’s approach to solving problems,’ emphasised Aydyn Askerov, an FES graduate now working as a manager in the transaction support department at Technologies of Trust. ‘If you freeze and don’t say anything, then that's a disadvantage. You don’t need to know everything, but you need to demonstrate a logical approach.’

Elena Volkova, FES graduate and employee of Unilever Rus, said that the knowledge she gained at HSE University helped her develop her career. ‘We are looking for people who are not afraid to try new things, not afraid of difficult challenges, and who have an entrepreneurial streak,’ she stressed.

The HSE students in attendance appreciated the event, highlighting the diversity of companies and career opportunities. ‘Events like this are inspiring. It's great that you can find out what companies can offer and get personal advice and feedback on your plans and ideas. It's valuable,’ said FES student Mikhail.

The event also proved to be interesting and useful to students of other HSE faculties. Elina, Maria and Irina, fifth-year students of the Bachelor’s in Asian and African Studies, came to see what was happening in the atrium and ended up staying longer. While talking to the employers, they took note of the demand for specialists in their field, especially those with a knowledge of Arabic and Chinese. ‘We liked Avito—they have many different paid internships and educational programmes,’ shared the students.

Guests from other universities also took part in the event. For example, RANEPA students Arina, Sofia, Maxim, and Maria shared their impressions of the event and HSE University. ‘The scale of the event is amazing, and the people here are very cool and friendly. We liked that there were many companies and internships. VTB, Sber and Unilever turned out to be particularly appealing,’ said the students.

Text by Ekaterina Chaunina and Varvara Mikhailova, research assistants at the HSE Laboratory for Economic Journalism

March 19, 2025