The Careers Fair: Unfiltered

By Anya Saluja

When we think about STEM, we think about all the science-related stuff.

“EUREKA, I have come up with time travel.” Apparently, that’s what all the superheroes do too, don’t they?

Why isn’t Batman doing marketing? Why isn’t The Flash doing law? Well, we have Superman doing journalism, so go Superman! But most superheroes seem to end up in STEM-related fields.

Now, back to actual jobs, which are often divided into STEM and non-STEM. Non-STEM includes commerce, such as business, finance and law, as well as the humanities and arts, from philosophy and sociology to psychology and film.

But how much does your degree actually decide where you can work? That was the question I was asked to explore at this year’s Careers Fair.

The Fair

Queen’s annual Autumn Careers Fair took place on 13 and 14 October 2026, with more than 160 employers across Mandela Hall, Whitla Hall and South Dining Hall.

The 13th focused on Tech, Science and Engineering; the 14th on Business, Finance and Law. I went on the 13th as a Finance student. What would I do at a STEM-focused careers fair?

Primarily, I was there as a Features Writer for The Gown, asking employers about opportunities outside their obvious technical disciplines. But I ended up asking a few questions for myself too.

Queen’s also made space for the humanities and arts through Creative Industries Week the following week, from 19–23 October, covering publishing, museums, screen industries and game development.

So, a young Clark Kent would have somewhere to go too.

Don’t Judge a Company by its Sector

On the first day, I went in as a Finance student expecting there’d be nothing for me.

Turns out, engineering companies were looking for someone like me.

Someone studying Finance.

For finance roles.

I went from Barry Allen to The Flash real quick and started asking questions of my own.

A company can operate in engineering or medicine and still need people in finance, HR, marketing, sales, communications and operations. A technology company needs people who can communicate; a scientific company needs HR; a media organisation needs finance.

The more employers I spoke to, the less convincing the STEM/non-STEM divide became. Some told me that students from backgrounds such as psychology, film, law or philosophy had approached them about roles in fields including computer science, aerospace and engineering.

Maybe your degree isn’t as restrictive as it seems.

But, as with every seemingly perfect ending, there’s a catch.

What About Actually Getting the Role?

This isn’t exactly a “yay, everyone can apply for everything!” situation.

Because yes, you might be eligible. But being eligible isn’t the same as being competitive. Especially in this job market. (Good luck!)

An employer may prefer someone whose degree gives them the specific knowledge needed for a role.

One employer explained that a relevant degree can give candidates an advantage because they already understand the concepts and terminology, and have demonstrated an interest in the field through their studies.

You can’t be Bruce Wayne and be a therapist.

But you can be Superman and be a construction worker because of his physical strength.

Transferable skills can help you move into a role, but applying outside your degree discipline can be challenging when you’re competing against candidates with more relevant qualifications.

Whatever your degree, you’ll need knowledge, experience, communication skills and genuine interest, all of which can be demonstrated through extracurricular activities and personal initiative.

For highly competitive roles, though, it’s difficult to know exactly what sets one strong candidate apart from another. Even well-qualified applicants miss out.

Then Came the QR Code…

Most students I spoke to said employers directed them towards QR codes after a brief introduction.

What’s the point of coming in person if you’re just being sent to a website?

Employers weren’t necessarily avoiding conversations because they didn’t care. Some were frustrated by students asking generic questions:

“What industry are you?”

“What roles do you offer?”

“Are you hiring for placements?”

The Careers Team’s entrance pamphlet listed employers, industries and whether they were recruiting for graduate roles, summer internships or placements. Yet students still asked about roles that weren’t available.

Sometimes, the QR code is there because the student hasn’t done the first bit of work.

So, should you actually go? Yes.

Whether you’re a first-year student, fourth-year student or graduate, attending the Careers Fair is worth it.

You might find opportunities where you least expect them. I went to the engineering day with no interest in engineering companies and found finance, marketing and HR roles I hadn’t considered.

Do your research beforehand, and if you don’t know who to talk to, use the fair as practice.

Maybe the question isn’t whether the Careers Fair is for STEM or non-STEM students.

Maybe it’s whether you’re willing to look beyond the label on the stand, because there are opportunities everywhere.