Planning your future career can feel like a big step, especially as an international student exploring new opportunities. In this article, Mabelle from Germany shares her experience at Tio’s Career Event and how it helped shape her professional outlook. From inspiring speakers to valuable networking moments, she offers a perspective on what students can expect. Discover how this event brings education and industry closer together while helping students take their next career steps with confidence.
Glimpse into life after graduation
As a first-year International Business Management student at Tio, I am already very focused on what comes after my studies. I am highly motivated by practical experience, international exposure, and finding a career path that combines business, people, and creativity. That is why attending Tio’s Career Event felt especially valuable to me, it offered a realistic and motivating glimpse into life after graduation.
Exploring internship opportunities
From the moment I arrived, the event felt accessible and welcoming, which I particularly appreciated as an international student. Networking events can often feel intimidating, but the open atmosphere made it easy to approach companies and start conversations. This immediately put me at ease and allowed me to focus on what I came for: Exploring internship opportunities and learning more about the industries I am interested in.
Inspiring speaker sessions
The speaker sessions were a strong highlight of the day. Els Visser’s talk on resilience, ambition, and perseverance stood out to me the most. Her story felt genuine and relatable, and it reinforced the idea that setbacks are not failures but part of personal and professional growth. Won Yip also shared insights from his entrepreneurial journey, offering a real-world perspective on building and managing a business. Together, the talks provided both inspiration and realism, something I found very motivating.
Networking at the Career Expo
During the Career Expo, I spoke with over twenty organisations, mainly within the hotel and hospitality sector. I was particularly interested in general management and marketing roles, as these align well with my studies and long-term goals. While there were fewer “traditional” corporate businesses present than I initially expected, the variety of hotels made up for it. Many were actively hiring international students and offered internships both in the Netherlands and abroad, which was encouraging to see. At the same time, some organisations required Dutch fluency, which was a useful reality check and helped me better understand where my current strengths and limitations lie.
What I valued most was how approachable the recruiters were. Conversations felt natural rather than formal, which made networking much less daunting. The LinkedIn workshop was another practical highlight; it provided immediate useful tips that I could apply to my own profile. Having the opportunity to take professional profile photos was a great bonus and something I know will be useful when applying for internships.
Engaging, enjoyable and reinforcing
The overall atmosphere of the event struck a perfect balance between professional and relaxed. With great music from a student DJ, it felt engaging rather than overwhelming, which made spending several hours there genuinely enjoyable.
Leaving the Career Event, I felt motivated and more focused. I now have a clearer idea of the types of internships I want to pursue, particularly within hotel management and marketing, and I have already started following up with companies I connected with. My next steps are refining my CV, strengthening my LinkedIn profile, and actively applying for internships that offer an international environment where I can grow both professionally and personally.
Overall, the event reinforced why I chose Tio in the first place: Its strong practical focus, close connection to industry, and supportive environment for international students. It was not just informative but genuinely motivating and it made the future feel both exciting and achievable.