Review: LSE AAB Careers Panel 2022

February 27, 2022

On February 22, 2022, the LSE AAB, together with LSE Careers, organised the annual Careers panel discussion for future LSE graduates who want to discover professional opportunities in Brussels. During the online event six distinguished alumni shared their stories and experiences in the ‘EU bubble’ and beyond. Our panellists were Patrick Hall, Associate with Finsbury Glover Hering Consultancy, Alessandra Pozzi Rocco, Member of Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Cabinet, Nikolaos Theodosiadis, Junior Professional at the European Commission, Lena Hillmeier at the United Nations Liaison Office for Peace and Security (UNLOPS), Giacomo Loi, Public Affairs Consultant at FleishmanHillard, and Marija Skundric, EU Civil Servant at the European Parliament.

The event was chaired by Despina Manousos, Careers Officer and Strategic Partnerships Manager of the LSE AAB. She started the discussion by providing a brief overview of the LSE AAB and the range of activities organised, then gave the floor to the speakers who explained their career paths and what brought them to Brussels. The discussion centred around career advice for graduates who are eager to start their career in Brussels.The panellists shared valuable tips and advice with the audience on how to navigate through the various career possibilities and how to thrive in a highly competitive job market. The event concluded with a lively Q&A session.

Here are some key take-aways from our speakers:

- Patience and perseverance: Finding a job can be challenging and can take time. Often it is a matter of being at the right place at the right time. Maybe you have knocked on 100 doors already without success, but knock on one more because that might be the lucky one. So don’t give up!

- Taking risks and being open to opportunities: Don’t be afraid to take risks and dare to dream big. There is no such thing as failure, but it is all part of a growth process. It is important to be flexible and open to opportunities, even if it is not your dream job, because it is part of your learning experience. It might be precisely that opportunity which will bring you one step closer to your ‘dream job’.

- Ask yourself the right questions: It is important to have a plan, to be strategic and to ask yourself the right questions before applying. Being curious, proactive, driven and coming well-prepared are all essential to land a job that feels right for you.

- The power of your network: Never underestimate the strength of your network. If you are new in town, the LSE AAB is a great place to start building your network. Brussels offers countless opportunities to dive into whatever field interests you and build your expertise, so if you have a passion, make the most of it. But make sure you invest in your contacts and build quality relationships.