Students explore career paths as major firms recruit at UG event

Apr 18, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Maria Charan, a Grade 9 student of Queen’s College, on Friday, described the University of Guyana’s Career Day as an eye-opening experience as she begins to consider her future career path.

“I’m not really sure what I want to do yet,” she admitted. “I’ve been thinking about going into the medical or science stream, but I’m not completely certain or fixed on that decision. That’s one of the main reasons I came here, to explore my options and see what really interests me,” she shared in an interview with Kaieteur News.

Charan explained that the wide range of booths and displays allowed her to learn about areas she had not previously considered. Among the highlights for her was the gender studies booth, which she said stood out as particularly engaging and informative. “It caught my attention because it’s something different from what I usually think about,” she said. “It made me curious and opened my mind to other possibilities.”

She also pointed to the agricultural exhibits as another area she appreciated, noting that they showcased practical and important aspects of development that are often overlooked by students focused on more traditional career paths. Reflecting on the overall experience, Charan said the event provided a valuable opportunity for students like herself who are still undecided about their future.

“This is a really great opportunity to figure out what I like and what I might want to pursue,” she said. “It’s helping me think more seriously about my options and understand what’s out there.”

Rajiv Simbudyal, a Grade Eleven (11) student of The Bishops’ High School, said attending UG’s Career Day has strengthened his interest in pursuing higher education at the institution.

“I’m currently in Fifth Form (Grade Eleven), and UG seems like the place I want to continue my studies,” he shared. “I came here hoping to network, meet people, and get more information about what it’s like to study at the University of Guyana and the courses that are available.”

Simbudyal explained that the event exposed him to a wider range of opportunities than he initially expected. In particular, he was surprised by the scale of Guyana’s mining sector and the level of industry involvement present at the fair.

“I didn’t realise there were so many mining companies and industries operating in Guyana,” he said. “It really opened my eyes to how many career paths exist right here in the country.” He was also impressed by the breadth of academic offerings at the university, especially within the field of engineering. “I didn’t know UG had so many engineering departments,” he noted, adding that the displays and interactions with representatives helped him better understand the different specialisations and career options available.

Simbudyal said he is already thinking about his next step after completing his secondary education. “I’m hoping to join UG from September to pursue aviation management,” he said. He added that the Career Day experience has given him greater confidence about his decision and a clearer sense of direction. “Being here and seeing everything in one place really helps you make more informed choices about your future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Global professional services firm Ernst & Young (EY) is using the University of Guyana’s (UG) Career Day event as a platform to recruit talent and expand its growing operations in the country.

Naresh Rhajcoomar, who is responsible for Human Resources at EY Guyana told Kaieteur News on Friday that the company’s participation marks its first involvement in the job fair and comes at a time when the organisation is scaling up locally.

“We are currently expanding our Guyana operations. We are looking for professionals who are eager to work and have skillsets that can fit into what EY offers,” he explained. He outlined that the firm specialises in audits, taxation, business consultation, transactions, and strategy, with a strong emphasis on innovation. “We are heavily focused on the use of AI in transforming business processes and optimising what currently exists,” he explained.

As part of its expansion drive, EY is aiming to significantly increase its workforce in the coming months. “We are looking to double our current staff count, maybe about 50 persons, especially individuals with ACCA and CAT qualifications and experience in business consulting,” he said.

He also highlighted the company’s commitment to developing young professionals, noting that EY operates as a learning organisation that invests in training and mentorship. “We take students from an intern level, even those fresh out of university, and we train them. For persons who may not yet be seasoned in the world of work, there is a place for you,” Rhajcoomar said.

According to him, the firm has already seen success stories of individuals who started as interns and progressed to senior roles, underscoring opportunities for growth within the company.

Similarly, Global accounting firm KPMG is looking to build its presence in Guyana by recruiting young professionals at UG’s Career Day, following the recent launch of its local office. Michael Outar, a representative of KPMG Guyana, said the firm is excited about entering the local market and sees the job fair as a key opportunity to connect with prospective employees.

“KPMG is a global accounting and audit firm. We also provide advisory and tax consulting services, and we are very excited to be coming to Guyana,” Outar said, noting that the company has established its office on Waterloo Street. He explained that while the firm is still new to the country, it has already begun engaging in projects, particularly in the healthcare sector. Among its early contributions is work with RioMed on the implementation of electronic health records at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

Outar noted that much of KPMG’s work in Guyana is tied to major development projects, particularly in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), as well as financial advisory. “There is a huge finance remit, especially when it comes to the financing of projects,” he said.

He added that the firm provides due diligence services to both the Government of Guyana and private sector partners, ensuring that financial arrangements are sound. This includes reviewing and negotiating interest rates, assessing vendors, and ensuring value for money in large-scale projects.

Beyond project finance, KPMG also offers global mobility services, assisting expatriates with tax compliance and related matters, as part of its broader advisory portfolio. While outlining its current operations, Outar emphasised that expansion is on the horizon and that the firm is actively seeking to hire locally. “Right now, we are looking for young, ambitious Guyanese who want to work for a large company and gain experience from a global perspective,” he said.

He underscored that opportunities now exist within Guyana for professionals to build international careers without migrating. “No longer do you have to leave this country to achieve your dreams. You can achieve your dreams right here,” Outar stated.

As a newly established firm in the local market, he said KPMG is focused on identifying individuals with strong work ethic, ambition, and a willingness to learn. “What we need is local Guyanese who demonstrate ambition, who can be trained and who are ready to contribute,” he added.

Meanwhile, UG’s Vice Chancellor Paloma Mohamed told this publication that the career day initiative has been evolving since 2021. She noted that it originally began as a career or open day aimed primarily at secondary school students, especially those preparing to sit their exams, who wanted to explore the programmes offered by the university.

In the aftermath of COVID-19, the university expanded the event to include a job fair component, creating opportunities for job seekers to connect directly with industries in need of employees. While the initiative initially catered only to UG students and alumni, it has since been opened to the wider public, a change that has been in place for the past two years, Mohamed shared.

This year’s event marks a significant milestone, she said, as it is being hosted in Essequibo for the first time. It also features the largest number of exhibitors to date, with 44 external organisations alongside approximately 100 university departments showcasing their work.

Highlighting the event’s impact, Mohamed revealed that more than 700 individuals secured employment opportunities from last year’s Career Day. Of those, around 200 were hired on the spot, while many others received follow-up calls that led to job placements.

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• Career Day, career paths, recruit, UG

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