How do you choose your first job when you're not quite sure what you want to do? What are employers looking for in candidates with no work experience? And how do you build a career in a world that's constantly changing?

On October 22, 2026, at the Romanian-American University in Bucharest, we brought these questions to the heart of the first edition of Campus2Work – The Festival of Futures, an event organized by Undelucram.ro for students and young people at the beginning of their careers.

From the very beginning, we wanted Campus2Work to be more than a traditional career fair. We designed it as a complete experience, with every moment bringing students one step closer to their professional future.

The journey started with festival check-in and continued in the Main Stage area, where professionals from different companies and industries shared their stories, advice, and career insights. Students could then take a break and explore JOB FAINd, the area dedicated to meeting employers face-to-face, before joining hands-on workshops. The experience continued with more conversations at company stands, interactive activities, music, and a lively atmosphere created by the DJ, before the day wrapped up with the live prize draw in the university's main auditorium.

A journey built around curiosity, exploration, and genuine human connections.

And after this first edition, we were left with wonderful memories and valuable insights worth sharing.

The First Step: Check-In, Energy, and Curiosity

The day began with students arriving, checking in, and making their first connections at the Romanian-American University.

For some, Campus2Work was an opportunity to discover companies and internship opportunities. For others, it was a chance to ask questions about their first job, explore new industries, or simply gain a better understanding of what they wanted from their professional future.

But they all had one thing in common: the curiosity to discover what comes after university.

And that was the energy that kicked off the very first edition of the festival.

Main Stage: Career Stories, Different Perspectives, and Advice Worth Remembering

The first part of the festival was dedicated to conversations on the Main Stage.

The opening brought together Profu' de Corporateză, the event host, and Raluca Hagiu, COO of Undelucram.ro, who kicked off the day with a simple message: you don't need to have all the answers about your future, but you do need the courage to start asking the right questions.

Next came the panel "From Academic Experience to Career," moderated by Raluca Hagiu, featuring Maria Leuștean (Code for Romania), Mihaela Ciuraru (EMTHRIVE), Iulia Eremia (Job cu Job), Corneliu Ionescu (Banometru), and Raisa Bădilă (AIESEC Romania).

The discussion started with a reality familiar to many students: the pressure to know exactly what they want to do after graduation.

But what if your first job isn't the right fit? What if you change direction? What if you discover that the field you're passionate about is completely different from what you studied?

One of the first key takeaways of the day was that a career doesn't have to follow a straight line. Exploration, self-awareness, practical experiences, and even changes in direction are all natural parts of professional growth.

From recognizing skills gained through volunteering and academic projects to learning how to communicate your value to an employer, the panel offered students complementary perspectives on starting their careers.

What Did Students Learn from the Companies on the Main Stage?

Following the panel, the Campus2Work stage became a space where company representatives explored some of the biggest challenges young people face at the beginning of their careers.

Alexandru Glodeanu from Kaufland Romania introduced Kari Era, an AI-powered career mentor available through WhatsApp. His key message was that young people don't lack ambition; what they need is greater clarity and guidance to make informed career decisions.

Representing tbi bank, Roxana Dadiloveanu encouraged students to look beyond job titles and think about the professionals they want to become. In a labor market increasingly shaped by technology and AI, adaptability and the willingness to learn are becoming essential.

One message that stayed with us?

"Your CV has an expiration date. Your ability to learn doesn't."

The importance of lifelong learning was further explored by Laura Bușu from Michelin, who discussed building a professional profile that combines deep expertise in one field with transferable skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.

And because your first job shouldn't be your final destination, Andra Păduraru from ENGIE GBS Romania highlighted the variety of career paths available within a single organization.

This perspective was complemented by the story of Radu Pintea from Foundever, who started his career in a customer support role and gradually progressed into management and recruitment positions. His experience demonstrated that you don't need a perfect career plan to start building one.

Another important topic was the lack of professional experience. Diana Nistor and Bia Voicu from Provident showed how internships can become a starting point for developing valuable skills and how students already have abilities they can put to good use.

When it came to recruitment, Cătălina Stancu from Booking Holdings Romania shared practical advice on CVs, interviews, the STAR method, and the importance of authenticity. A useful reminder: you don't need perfect interview answers. You need to be able to explain what you've learned, how you think, and what you can contribute to a team.

One of the most emotional moments of the presentations came from Veronica Olteanu from PORR Construct, who spoke about personal value and the people who help us grow.

To write your own story, you need people who believe in you.

Despite covering different topics, all these presentations shared one common message: starting your career isn't about knowing everything. It's about curiosity, learning, and having the courage to try.

A Break from Presentations, but Not from Discoveries: Welcome to JOB FAINd!

After the first part of the day, students had the opportunity to leave the main auditorium and explore JOB FAINd, the festival's exhibition area.

Here, career conversations became more personal.

Instead of listening to presentations on stage, students could speak directly with company representatives, learn about internships and entry-level roles, ask questions about recruitment processes, or discover what working in a particular organization is really like.

The area also featured opportunities for interaction, including Meet & Greet and CV Clinic, alongside interactive activities prepared by festival partners.

At the Kaufland Romania stand, for example, students could explore the AI Oracle, an interactive experience designed to help them discover a potential job match. Meanwhile, at Evolution Romania, activities and conversations about career opportunities brought even more energy to the festival.

For us, this was one of the most important elements of Campus2Work: turning the meeting between students and employers into a relaxed, approachable experience built around genuine dialogue.

From Inspiration to Action: Two Rounds of Workshops

If the first part of the day was about inspiration and discovering new perspectives, the afternoon was all about putting those ideas into practice.

Starting at 2:30 PM, students took part in two rounds of workshops, exploring real-life challenges related to recruitment and professional life.

Companies including Kaufland Romania, tbi bank, Booking Holdings, Provident, PORR Construct, ENGIE GBS Romania, Michelin, Foundever, Auchan, Lactalis Romania, and SLB, alongside facilitators such as EMTHRIVE, Job cu Job, and CareerShift, covered a wide range of topics: from career guidance, self-awareness, and choosing your first job to CV building, personal branding, interview preparation, communication, and teamwork. Participants explored the recruitment process from a recruiter's perspective, ways to highlight their potential without previous work experience, what it means to join an international team, maintaining balance at the beginning of a career, and professional development opportunities leading to leadership roles.

These sessions gave students the opportunity to ask questions, participate in exercises, and discuss real-life situations directly with professionals.

And that was another important takeaway from the festival: sometimes, you learn the most when you get the chance to try things yourself, rather than simply listen.

Back to JOB FAINd: Conversations, Activities, and a True Festival Atmosphere

After the workshops, the Campus2Work experience continued in the exhibition area.

Students could return to company stands, pick up conversations they had started earlier, and explore opportunities they hadn't yet had the chance to discover.

And because we wanted to create a career festival, not just another conference, the DJ's music added to the atmosphere, turning the late afternoon into a moment for relaxation, socializing, and connecting with others.

After all, a conversation about your professional future can begin in an informal setting, without the pressure of an interview or job application.

An Exciting Finale: The Live Prize Draw in the Campus2Work Auditorium

After a full day of presentations, workshops, activities, and conversations about the future, it was time for one of the most anticipated moments of the festival: the Campus2Work prize draw!

Students gathered in the Romanian-American University's main auditorium for the live draw, filling the room with excitement, anticipation, and joy.

The prizes found their winners, adding an extra burst of energy to the end of the event.

But beyond the surprises and prizes, we hope every student left Campus2Work with something valuable: a new idea, a practical piece of advice, a meaningful connection, a newly discovered opportunity, or simply greater confidence in their own future.

A Resource That Keeps the Experience Going: Campus2Work Student Guide 2026

We wanted the Campus2Work experience to continue long after the festival ended.

That's why we also created the Campus2Work Student Guide 2026, a free 92-page resource designed for students and young people at the beginning of their careers.

Many participants had the opportunity to discover the printed guide during the festival, and it's now available online for everyone interested.

The guide includes a career orientation quiz, entry-level salary data from Romania, industry insights, interviews with employers, and practical recommendations for CVs, LinkedIn, job interviews, and salary negotiation.

Readers will also find tools for using AI in their job search, a seven-day job-hunting challenge, and a Personal Employability Score, designed to help them assess their readiness for the labor market.

Because career exploration doesn't happen in a single day, and every student deserves access to information that helps them make better decisions.

Download the Campus2Work Student Guide 2026 for free: here

What Stays with Us After the First Edition of Campus2Work?

At the end of October 22, Campus2Work had become much more than a schedule of presentations and workshops.

It was about students having the courage to ask questions. Professionals sharing their experiences. Companies connecting with the next generation of employees. Conversations, ideas, opportunities, and moments that we hope will continue to inspire people long after the festival.

For us, the first edition represented months of preparation, countless emotions, incredible energy, and a team that truly believed in this project.

We would like to thank all our partners, speakers, facilitators, volunteers, Undelucram.ro colleagues, and, of course, the students who made this first edition possible.

And if there's one message we'd like everyone to take away from the entire Campus2Work experience, it's this:

You don't need to have your entire future planned out. You just need to be willing to discover it, one step at a time.

Campus2Work 2026 – The Festival of Futures. One first edition, countless perspectives, and a future we'll continue building together.