If you’re attending the 2014 SACM career fair and graduation ceremony in the Washington, D.C.-area starting on May 24th, you’ll be joining thousands of other Saudi students in the U.S. for an excellent networking opportunity. Students on the King Abdullah Scholarship Program and their families come from around the country to celebrate their achievements and match their skills with excellent opportunities from major companies.
1. The Event. The 2014 SACM Job Fair will be hosted at the Gaylord National Harbor hotel on May 24-27, 2013, at 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745. The first event was in 2009, with each subsequent year attracting a larger number of graduates and their families. SACM covers nightly hotel costs, which does not include any room service fees or any additional costs you may add to your room.
2. The Location. Hosted at the Gaylord hotel, a sprawling complex on the Potomac river about 20 minutes drive (traffic permitting) from downtown Washington, D.C. The Gaylord is part of a development that includes restaurants, shopping and ample parking facilities. For more information on the area, including restaurants and shopping, visit: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wasgn-gaylord-national-resort-and-convention-center/
3. The App. SACM has designed an app for the career fair and graduation ceremony to help you navigate the 4-day event. The app is designed for iPhone and android devices as is available in the App store and Google Play.
4. The Program. The career fair comes first, starting on May 24th, then the graduation ceremony ends the event. For more exact information on the entire program, download the event app or ask for a full schedule of events when you check in.
5. Networking. The career fair is an excellent chance to network not only with other students but with SACM officials and businesses that are looking to hire. The top three majors of Saudi students in the United States are business/management, engineering, and IT, so you can expect leading firms in these industries to be at the fair, excited to meet you and to discuss opportunities.
6. Attendance. The event is well attended by SACM and embassy officials, including H.E. Adel Al Jubeir, Saudi Ambassador to the United States. Over 7,000 students and their families were present during the career fair and graduation ceremony last year. Our advice is to get to the career fair early to take advantage of the chance to meet directly with companies in your field.
7. Activities. The Gaylord and surrounding National Harbour is a very nice area, but if you’re visiting from out of town, be sure to explore Washington’s other areas for shopping, dining, and entertainment. If the weather is nice, a walk along Georgetown’s M Street shopping district would make for a great experience for any age.
8. SACM. While SACM is the lead organizer of the event, the main SACM office is not near the Gaylord National Harbour. If you plan to visit SACM’s headquarters while visiting Washington, or you wish to visit the Saudi Embassy in Washington, these trips will require separate transportation.
9. Photos. SUSTG will show the best photos from the event in gallery format immediately after the graduation ceremony is finished. Check back with SUSTG after the event to see yourself and your friends!
