From Gen Z to Gen AI: NUS Career Fest 2026 prepares students for the future of work
The first of this year’s two career fairs brings together over 300 employers from diverse sectors, including technology, finance, healthcare and many more.
As the world of work is reshaped by rapid technological advancements and shifting industry expectations, NUS is strengthening its efforts to equip students with the confidence and capabilities needed to navigate emerging career opportunities. Through intentional preparation, industry engagement and sustained career support, the University is helping students approach their career journeys with purpose and adaptability.
A key platform driving this effort is the NUS Career Fest, a biannual flagship event organised by the Centre for Future-ready Graduates (CFG). Taking place from 10 to 12 February 2026 at the Stephen Riady Centre, NUS University Town, the February edition of NUS Career Fest is expected to bring together more than 300 employers across multiple sectors and over 9,000 students from across the University.
The event’s theme “From Gen Z to Gen AI: The Future's Not Predicted, It's Created” reflects how today’s graduates are entering a workforce where generational strengths such as creativity, adaptability and digital fluency intersect with the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI).
“Employers have consistently shared that in an AI-enabled workplace, human-centred soft skills are what differentiate candidates,” said Ms Joan Tay, Senior Director, CFG.
Meaningful engagement with industry players
Students attending NUS Career Fest 2026 can expect to engage a strong mix of AI-forward, high-growth, and future-focused employers, spanning technology, sustainability, finance, healthcare, public service, and research-intensive sectors. Employers at the fair will be recruiting for a wide range of roles, from summer internships and graduate programmes to entry-level positions designed to support long-term talent development.
Beyond recruitment, NUS Career Fest also facilitates meaningful engagement through industry talks, on-site curriculum vitae (CV) critiques and micro-coaching sessions by CFG Career Advisors, offering students timely insights into how hiring expectations are evolving and how they can better position themselves to potential employers.
“NUS Career Fest is an invaluable platform that effectively meets our recruitment needs by connecting us with top-tier talent and significantly enhances our company's brand visibility among students,” said Ms Hilda Tham, Campus Recruitment & Employer Branding Recruitment Marketing Executive, L'Oréal. “Engaging with NUS students is always a highlight, as they consistently impress us with their intellectual curiosity, strong analytical skills, proactive attitude, and a remarkable blend of academic excellence with real-world preparedness.”
Strengthening human-centred soft skills
Recognising that effective career preparation begins well before students meet employers, NUS Career Fest is complemented by a curated suite of pre- and post-event workshops. Pre-event workshops such as Create a High-Impact Personal Brand (21 January), delivered in collaboration with NUSOne, guided students in articulating their strengths, values, and experiences with clarity and authenticity. Meanwhile, Gen AI Hacks: Supercharge Your Career Journey (21 January), introduced practical and responsible ways to leverage generative AI tools in career exploration, job applications and interview preparation.
Students seeking early-career opportunities, benefitted from sessions such as Network Smart, Pitch Confidently: Your Strategy for Landing the First Role (28 January) which equipped them with valuable tools to build meaningful connections and speak with clarity and confidence, while those considering research pathways gained insights from The PhD Experience: Challenges, Growth, and Life Beyond Academia (5 February), co-organised with the NUS Graduate School.
A year-round ecosystem of support
NUS Career Fest is one touchpoint within CFG’s broader, year-round ecosystem of career support, which includes personalised career coaching, structured career roadmaps, employer engagement initiatives and experiential learning opportunities. Together, these resources help students sustain momentum beyond individual events and make informed decisions at each stage of their career journey.
For many students, this integrated support provides both reassurance and a strategic approach to navigate an increasingly complex career landscape. “CFG’s support has been instrumental in my career preparation journey. Through Career Advisory sessions, I was able to identify industries that aligned closely with my interests and skill set, enabling a more focused and effective job search. The resume, cover letter and interview workshops strengthened my application materials and enhanced my overall readiness. Participating in the How to Ace Your Assessment Centre workshop, including a mock assessment centre, further built my confidence and preparedness for actual assessment centres encountered during the recruitment process,” said Dineru Priyalal Premasinghe, a Year 4 student at the NUS College of Design and Engineering.
Students can continue building on their Career Fest experience through post-event workshops such as Harnessing Strengths for Workplace Success (26 February), Managing Job Offers and Salary Negotiation (13 March), and Mastering Presence and Charisma as an Introverted Professional (17 March), among others.
To view the full line-up of employers at NUS Career Fest 2026 and register for the event and upcoming workshops, visit: https://nus.edu.sg/cfg/nuscareerfest.
By NUS Centre for Future-ready Graduates
