Students Engage with Employers at Leeds Festival Event

Leeds students explore career advice at festival panel

Over 400 students attended an event at Leeds Playhouse in October as part of the Leeds International Festival of Ideas (LIFI), focusing on practical insights into employment. The session, titled “What no one told you about getting a job”, featured a panel of speakers from various sectors discussing career development and job application challenges.

Panel includes media personality and regional employers

The panel included Musharaf Asghar, known from Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire, alongside representatives from Lloyds Banking Group, Morrisons, the NHS, and Jet2. BBC broadcaster Rima Ahmed hosted the discussion and noted the strong engagement from the student audience, who asked thoughtful questions throughout the event.

Key topics discussed

• Career building: The importance of authenticity and workplace behaviour was highlighted as crucial for job seekers.
• Navigating AI: The panel addressed how artificial intelligence is impacting job applications and recruitment processes.
• Work experience and ambition: Employers emphasised that behaviours such as care and ambition are highly valued, sometimes more than formal qualifications.

Insights from the speakers

Musharaf Asghar shared his personal journey from struggling with a stammer to becoming a journalist and motivational speaker. He encouraged young people by saying there is still time to build a career after college and that early pressure should not be overwhelming.

Nad Ghani, Talent Lead at Morrisons, responded to student concerns about gaining work experience by stressing the importance of care and ambition in the workplace. Katie Rankin, Talent and Careers Lead at Jet2, added that passion and alignment with company values are key factors when recruiting, as skills can be developed through training.

Student perspectives

Paige, a student from Leeds City College’s 14+ Academies, reflected on her experience at the event. She said it was reassuring to hear that personal qualities can be just as important as academic achievement in the job market.

Festival context

The event was part of the LIFI Futures series, designed to give young people opportunities to explore relevant issues. The wider Leeds International Festival of Ideas ran from 6-10 October at Leeds Playhouse and featured appearances from public figures including Louis Theroux and Tim Minchin.