Career Talks - for international students and recent graduates in Belgium
What’s in it for you?
During the panel discussion, international alumni with different study backgrounds will share their personal career stories. All panel members studied in Belgium and decided to start their career in the Leuven region afterwards. They will answer questions such as:
- How did they approach their job search?
- How did they experience the job application process in Belgium?
- What is it like to work as an international in Belgium?
- What tips & tricks do they have for international students and recent graduates considering a career in Belgium?
- You can also submit your question for the panel during the registration process.
We will be hosting a small networking reception after the panel discussion so that you can meet and network with other students, recent graduates and the panel members.
Good to know
The Career Talks are aimed at international students and recent graduates with limited work experience.
During the panel discussion, we will not discuss legal information about working in Belgium (single permit, search year, …). Would you like to know more about these topics? Join the virtual information session hosted by the student legal advisor (KU Leuven students only) or consult our website. For non-students you can come to one of IHL's immigration consultation hours.
Practical information & registration
- Monday 18 November 7pm – 10pm
- Location: International House Leuven, Tiensevest 60, 3000 Leuven (stairs into building without a ramp, unfortunately not accessible for wheelchairs)
- Registration: you are welcome to attend this event free of charge, but registration is required:
About the panel members
Anna Tripp: is currently working at the International House Leuven as a project manager. She gained her master's in Brussels, then continued to live in Belgium on a search year and is now working on a single permit. Her field of study was linguistics/intercultural communication. She can help with building a network in Leuven.
Niki Jenabi: is currently working at Materialise as a biosafety engineer. She gained her Master’s degree from KU Leuven, then continued to live in Belgium on a search year visa and is now working on a single permit. Her field of study was biomaterials engineering. She can help by giving tips and tricks on how to survive life in Belgium as an international student and then as a fresh graduate who is navigating the job market.
Rebecca Poulsen: is a recent graduate (2022) of the KU Leuven masters in digital media and society program. She is currently self-employed through a business professional card working as a digital media consultant. She can help with the path to become self-employed (as an international) and share her experience with applying for a professional card.
Daniel Balici is originally from Romania and studied Business Administration at KU Leuven during his bachelor's and master's. Since May 2022 he has been in a graduate programme at QSRP, the fast-food group behind Quick and Burger King BeLux, Burger King Italy, O'Tacos, and Nordsee. He is currently in his second rotation in finance, at Burger Brands Belgium. Daniel can give you tips and tricks on what Belgian employers are looking for in a candidate, what it's like to be a foreign employee in a predominantly Belgian company culture, the appeals and pains of corporate career, and any other curiosities you might have.
Ponnapat Watjanatepin: is a PhD candidate and a research associate at the Sustainability Assessment of Materials and Circular Economy at KU Leuven. He is originally from Thailand and had graduated from KU Leuven in 2020 from Group T campus with a background in Industrial Sciences: Chemical Engineering. He can help you with his experience in working in the academia and sharing his experience of applying for a PhD.