Opening Day Full of Inspirational Talks and Seminars

The second Career Week and Fair organized by Final International University Career Center kicked off on Monday, April 21, at the Conference Hall II of the Çatalköy Campus. The event, which brought students together with professionals from the business world, attracted significant attention and participation.

Session I: Careers Shaped by Experience

The first session began with opening remarks from the Director of the Career Center, Asst. Prof. Dr. Kevser Taşel Jurkoviç, and the A. Rector of Final International University, Prof. Dr. Orhan Gemikonaklı. Both speakers emphasized the importance of making informed career decisions and taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the university.

Erol Sezer, Operations Manager at Acapulco Hotel, delivered a talk titled “On Careers,” stressing that knowledge is as vital as oxygen in our lives, yet it only gains true value when combined with real-world experience.

İbrahim Taşel, Chairman of Final Educational Institutions and Vice President of the FIU Board of Trustees, spoke on “Life Success and Career.” Drawing from his personal journey, he advised students to choose a career not based on exam scores or others’ expectations, but on what truly inspires them. He emphasized that many opportunities in his own career found him—not the other way around—because he did his work with passion and integrity.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arzu Girişken, in her talk “Entrepreneurship as a Career,” presented entrepreneurship as a viable and fulfilling career path. She explained concepts such as social entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, encouraging students to focus on value creation and innovation.

Serenay Güven, Corporate Communications Manager at Başman Group, spoke on “Rising Through Patience and Loyalty in Your Career Journey.” She emphasized that while a new job often requires patience at the start, it offers growth over time. She shared how, as a mother of two, she advanced her career with vision and planning, illustrating that motherhood or similar life stages need not hinder professional success.

Serhat Gezgin, Human Resources and Procurement Manager at KKTCELL, in his presentation “Careers in a New World,” discussed how career paths are shifting in today’s rapidly changing world and underlined the importance of acquiring new skills to stay competitive.

Prof. Dr. Nazife Aydınoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at FIU, spoke on “Academic Career.” She shared her story of nearly choosing the wrong profession due to societal and familial pressure, but ultimately following her childhood dream of becoming a teacher. She also outlined the steps involved in pursuing an academic career.

⸻

Session II: Career Perspectives in a Dynamic World

The second session also began with opening speeches by Asst. Prof. Dr. Kevser Taşel Jurkoviç and Prof. Dr. Orhan Gemikonaklı.

Sulaf Saleh Alzu’bi, Founder and Business Development Consultant at SSA Consulting, gave a talk titled “Your Career Starts Now: Discovering Opportunities in a Dynamic World.” She shared global career trends and how to tap into international job markets.

Tuncay Cerit, Founder of Ekspats, delivered a presentation on “Careers Abroad,” where he shared insights into working internationally and adapting to diverse work cultures.

Hidayet Serdar, Human Resources Manager at Kaner Group, and Ayşe Onar, Executive Secretary to the Board of Directors at Kaner Group, co-presented “Your Personal Brand Matters: What Companies Look for in Internships and Job Applications.” They outlined essential skills for job seekers, such as analytical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork—commonly referred to as soft skills—which are now as crucial as technical qualifications.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Arzu Girişken once again took the stage with her talk “Entrepreneurship as a Career.” She elaborated on intrapreneurship, external entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship, providing real-world examples that illustrated how entrepreneurial thinking contributes to both personal growth and societal benefit.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nafiya Güden, Director of the Ünal Çağıner School of Tourism and Culinary Arts, spoke on “One of the World’s Top 10 Industries: The Future of Tourism and Emerging Trends.” She focused on sustainability, ecology, and rising niche areas in the tourism sector, offering valuable foresight into future opportunities.

Prof. Dr. İbrahim Benter, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at FIU, discussed “Academic Career” by sharing his own experience. He highlighted that his greatest motivation and joy comes from the real-world impact of his innovations in healthcare and the achievements of his students, emphasizing the deeper societal contribution of academia.

Event Access and Acknowledgements

Final International University extends heartfelt thanks to all the speakers who shared their valuable experiences and insights, and to the students who filled the auditorium with enthusiasm.

Those who missed the sessions or wish to rewatch them can access the event recordings at the following links:

Digital Career Library: kariyer.final.edu.tr 
WebTV Broadcast: https://www.final.edu.tr/webtv