Sefa Career Week
Your Playbook for Career Week
The University of Amsterdam’s largest on-campus recruitment event. Five days, dozens of companies, and a chance to start the next chapter of your career.
Sefa Career Week runs on the Roeterseiland campus and uses De Brug, REC lecture halls, and Café De Krater as its main venues. It’s free for ticket-holders, business formal in dress code, and structured around dedicated theme days.
1The Theme Days
Economics & Finance
Banks, insurers, brokerages — ING, NN, OLYX, YoungFinancials
Consultancy & Audit
The Big 4, strategy advisors — Deloitte, EY, KPMG, BDO, Improven, Moore MKW
Business / FMCG
Consumer brands, retail — Unilever, Kraft Heinz, AB InBev, Rituals, Henkel
Digital & AI
Tech, data — Artefact, Capgemini, ING Tech & Data
Global Institutions
EU agencies, government — Frontex and partners
Startups
SCW × AISO Startup Fair brings 20+ younger companies with hands-on early responsibility
2What Happens at Career Week
Open-to-join (no signup)
- Company Fairs at De Brug — 15+ companies in one room
- Company Presentations in REC lecture halls
- Speaker events on AI, careers, leadership
- Opening & Closing Drinks at Café De Krater
- YoungFinancials Headshot Stand — free LinkedIn photos
Signup required (CV-selected)
- Speed Dates — 5–10 min mini-interviews
- Business Cases — team work on a real company problem
- Networking Dinners & Ladies’ Dinners
- Boat Tours, Padel, Wine Tasting — informal but observed
- Cooking workshops and other team-based activities
Picking the right mix
A strong schedule has variety: one fair, one or two presentations, one speed date or case, and one informal event. Avoid signing up for 12 events and burning out by Wednesday.
3The Preparation Timeline
- Read the company brochure — note companies you’d seriously consider
- Update your CV and create an anonymous version
- Refresh your LinkedIn headline and photo
- Block the dates in your calendar
- Sign up for CV-selected events — earlier means better chances
- Read the careers page and one recent news item for each target company
- Prepare a 60-second self-introduction
- Prepare 3 questions you’d actually want answered, per company
- Confirm your schedule — receive your selected activities by email
- Lay out a business-formal outfit; check it fits
- Print 10–15 CVs and put them in a folder
- Learn the Roeterseiland campus map: De Brug, E-building, REC halls
- Charge your phone; bring a portable charger
- Eat properly — long days without food kill conversations
- Arrive 10 minutes early
- Bring water, mints, pen, notebook
4Daily Strategy for the Week
Set the tone
Start at: Opening keynote or speaker event. These set the energy for the week.
Focus on: Listening, learning, and getting your bearings. Don’t push too hard yet.
End at: Opening Drinks at Krater. Even half an hour matters. Recruiters are there, and you’re more relaxed than you’ll be all week.
Company Fair Days
Arrive at 14:00 right when doors open. The first hour is the highest-quality time, when recruiters are fresh and queues are short.
Walk the floor once to map who’s there, then commit to 5–8 priority booths.
Get your free professional headshot at the YoungFinancials Stand and instantly upgrade your LinkedIn.
Closing Drinks & the wind-down
By Friday, the recruiters you’ve spoken to all week are at the closing drinks. Re-introduce yourself, reference an earlier conversation, and confirm the connection. The week isn’t over until you walk out the door.
5Navigating the Roeterseiland Campus
The main fair location. Company booths line both sides; also home to the Headshot Stand.
Lecture halls for company presentations. Check your email for the specific room before each session.
Krater hosts opening and closing drinks. The Sefa Info Desk in the E-building is open all day for questions.
6Companies to Research Before You Arrive
Consulting & Advisory: Capgemini · Deloitte · EY · KPMG · BDO · Improven · Artefact · Moore MKW · de Jong & Laan · Flynth
Finance & Banking: ING · NN Group · OLYX · YoungFinancials
FMCG & Consumer: Unilever · Kraft Heinz · AB InBev · Rituals · Henkel
Other: Mainfreight (logistics) · Frontex (EU agency)
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