Internships, Offers, Industry Partners: HSE Career Marathon Overview
On November 20, 2024, HSE University hosted the annual autumn Career Marathon, traditionally organised by its Career Development Centre. Guests could enjoy various booths with activities from partner companies, video interviews with industry experts, a cinema zone with popcorn, as well as games, quests, puzzles, quizzes, and gifts.
Over 30 organisations took part in the event, including Alfa-Bank, VTB, DOM.RF, Mars, MTS, Ozon, the Moscow Government, Sber, VK Education, X5 Tech, and many others. The marathon was open to not only HSE University students, but also to students from other universities and anyone else wishing to participate.
Yana Syrbu is a second-year student of the Journalism Programme at A. S. Griboedov Institute of International Law and Economics. When she heard about the HSE Career Marathon from a friend, she decided to come: ‘I learnt a lot of interesting things for myself. I haven’t visited all of the booths yet, but I have already won a phone case, stickers, and pens. HSE University has its vibe, the organisers have done their best, and everything looks very cool.’
On this day, in the atrium, visitors became acquainted with companies’ activities and received information about possible internships or even their first job offer.
Students shared their impressions of the Career Marathon with HSE News Service. Lera Sergiychuk, a third-year student of the Media Communications Educational Programme at HSE University, was looking forward to the fair. ‘For a student who cares about finding a good job, this is an opportunity to get to know different companies and form an opinion about them,’ she says. ‘As long as I’ve been studying here, I’ve never missed the Career Marathons. Today is the first time I’ve seen so many people and such a variety of companies. This is probably the biggest fair I’ve ever been to. Last time I found an internship I liked and ended up getting it. It was great: I met with a recruiter and a week later I received an offer.’
Danil Bilalov, a first-year student of the Software Engineering Educational Programme at HSE University, is focused on his studies and is only beginning to eye internships: ‘I’ve been successfully studying at HSE University for almost three months and everything is great. Today I managed to answer questions on T-Bank’s Telegram bot and won a T-shirt, and I got a pen and candy at the Mars booth.’
The Career Marathon is important, it energises students and provides them with necessary information, says Yulia Kozina, a first-year student of the Economics Educational Programme at HSE University. ‘I plan to consider internships starting in my second year, I want to get into banking, for example, in Sberbank. I like studying, it is difficult but very interesting,’ she noted.
Employers participating in the marathon were also pleased with talking to HSE University students and industry colleagues.
Mikhail Cherepovsky, Senior Manager for Youth Affairs, X5 Tech
‘Here at X5 Tech, we are actively developing our internship programme, looking for the most energised applicants and are always happy to support initiatives that help students take their first steps into IT.
This is not our first year participating in the Career Marathon. This event is a great opportunity for young professionals to get acquainted with different areas of work in one day and choose what they are really interested in, and for us to communicate directly with talented students and help them choose their first employer.
We would be happy to see HSE University students on internships at X5 Tech!’
Vyacheslav Grishin, Head of the University Relations and HSE Department, t2
‘t2 is one of the anchor partners of HSE University’s Career Development Centre and participates in many of the university’s events. However, in our opinion, the HSE Career Marathon stands out as one of the most significant events. Twice a year, it allows us to communicate directly with a large number of students from different fields of study and inform them about the current conditions of the t2 internship programme and other company initiatives. This helps us to learn about students’ career expectations and to exchange best practices with colleagues from other companies. Special attention should be given to the excellent organisation of these marathons, which consistently ensures a high level of student engagement and interest in the event, as well as the use of the most modern work formats of with both partners and students. We consider the Career Marathon to be a platform for announcing and promoting various joint events between t2 and HSE University. For example, in April, we used the marathon to announce our Digital Product School, and, at the last marathon in November, we used the big screen to talk about the launch of the t2 Project Workshop at HSE MIEM.’
Vasilina Filippova, Manager of Youth Career Projects at the Career Development Centre of the Moscow Government, Supervisor of the Media City Internship at the Moscow Government
‘Every year, the Career Marathon allows us to draw the attention of young talented professionals to our programmes “Practical Training at the Moscow Government” and “Internship at the Moscow Government,” to show opportunities for development in the best city’s team.
It is also a great platform where one can personally get acquainted with colleagues from other organisations, exchange experience and, perhaps, even find options for partnership.
I would like to note the high level of preparation and organisation of the event. The organisers were in touch with us at all times to answer our questions. The applicants are active and are ready to start their internships and work placements in the near future.
We have common goals with our colleagues from the Career Development Centre—to enable every motivated student to build a dream career. Therefore, we hope that our co-operation will further develop in the future.’
Valeria Varlakhina, Expert of the Department for Attracting and Working with Young Specialists, Personnel Attraction and Development Division, HR Department, VTB Bank (PJSC)
‘Every year, VTB Bank participates in the HSE Career Marathon. It is nice to see students who are interested in what career opportunities VTB offers. HSE University students always show great results at the VTB Bank selection stages. HSE University trains a large number of talented young professionals who come to work for us and stay for many years to build their careers at VTB.
At our booth, there were interns who had completed their bachelor’s degree at HSE University and now work at VTB. They were able to share their experience and talk about how their education was useful in their work. We hope that students will continue to be proactive in their search for jobs and career opportunities, and will participate in educational and grant projects and other special projects of employers. All of these opportunities help them to build excellent CVs and present themselves in the best possible way at such events.
Many thanks to the organisers for a great event for students and employers, where one can not only find a job, but also network with colleagues.’
Olga Gaevskaya, Head of Office for Alumni Relations and Career Development at HSE University
‘We are pleased to welcome our partners to HSE University—this is a great opportunity for students to meet future employers and submit CVs for open vacancies and internships.
This year’s Career Marathon was organised under the slogan “Career as a Lifestyle,” and our task was to expose companies in terms of their corporate culture and the prospects they can offer to young professionals.’
See also:
‘The Fulfilment I Derive from Helping Others Makes the Programme Special to Me’
At the end of 2023, HSE University launched its International Mentoring Programme, where international alumni help current students adapt to the new environment, develop their personal skills, set goals, and make clear plans for job search and career growth. The HSE News Service spoke to participants about why the programme is interesting to mentors, what it can offer mentees, how it is it different from other career guidance initiatives, and more.
‘I Know When I Need to Find a Job, I’ll Be Able to Get Assistance at the HSE Career Centre’
On November 22, the atrium of the HSE building on Pokrovsky Boulevard hosted the traditional Career Marathon organised by the Career Development Centre. The main objective of the event was to introduce HSE students to potential employers—companies and their representatives. At the poster session, the university’s students had the opportunity to network with employees of major Russian banks, marketplaces, financial institutions, and IT integrators, gaining valuable first-hand information.
Where Do 2023 ICEF Bachelor’s Graduates Work and Study?
Employment rates for ICEF alumni in 2023 remain consistently high. Just a month after graduating from the International Bachelor’s Programme in Economics and Finance, 93% of graduates confirmed to the ICEF Career Centre that they had received job offers or decided to continue their studies in Russia and abroad in master’s and PhD programmes. Viktoria Pralich, Head of the Career Centre, talks about the employment and continued education of this year’s alumni.
‘Summer in Russia Has Been the Most Adventurous Holiday in My Life’
Sheripher Dinala, from Malawi, is a student of the Master’s in Political Analysis and Public Policy at HSE University in Moscow. With her busy summer over and the new academic year in full swing, Sheripher shares her stories of moving into a university dormitory, volunteering at international conferences, and nighttime dancing by the Moscow River.
‘We Live in a World with Imperfect Information. Network Theory Can Help’
Mariya Teteryatnikova, Associate Professor at the Department of Theoretical Economics at the Faculty of Economic Sciences (FES), talks about building an academic career in economics, European students and teaching in Vienna, the role of network theory in different contexts, international recruiting and more.
ICEF MSc Programme in Financial Economics: Today and Tomorrow
The Master’s in Financial Economics at the International College of Economics and Finance (ICEF) provides students with a solid theoretical foundation in economics and finance while teaching hands-on skills under the guidance of experts from academia and industry. With the 2022/23 academic year now over, faculty reflect on the programme’s successes and future prospects.
‘HSE University Is Truly Capable of Bringing Together and Developing Talented People’
HSE University graduate Mikhail Rybakov-Matrosov heads the logistics department at the Italian company Calzedonia Group and believes that over the past year there have been more advantages than disadvantages to working in international logistics. In this interview with Success Builder, Mr. Rybakov-Matrosov shared what it’s like to become a leader at the age of 22, how German and Italian management styles differ, and how the market can profit from Western IT systems integrating with those in Russia.
'HSE Paved My Road to Harvard'
Nargiz Mammadova, from Azerbaijan, is a 2022 graduate of the Economics: Research Programme and a finalist of the Global Essay Competition in St. Gallen. As she prepares to start her Master of Public Administration in International Development programme at Harvard in August 2023, Nargiz reflects on her time studying at HSE University during the COVID-19 pandemic, talks about her work for the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan, and shares an important message for future students.
‘Management Is All About People and That’s Why I Find It So Interesting’
Dmitry Samusev managed to get the best from two economics schools — HSE University and the Helsinki School of Economics — and become a true management expert in the process. He is currently purchasing director for Proctor & Gamble. In this interview with Success Builder, he explained why a change of climate is good for Russian students, how self-confidence helps in job interviews and what’s good about working for an international giant.
‘I Believe in Having a Career that Focuses on Solving Both Academic and Industrial Problems’
Mutiu Iyanda Lasisi is a first-year master’s student of Critical Media Studies at the Faculty of Creative Industries. He chose to pursue his master’s at HSE University out of a desire to combine theory and practice and to create real solutions. Mutiu spoke to the HSE News Service about why HSE University was the right place to realise his ambitions, how theory shapes learning into frameworks for action, and how he has already put his knowledge to real-world use.