Career Talks - for international students and recent graduates in Belgium
What’s in it for you?
During the panel discussion, international alumni with different study backgrounds will share their personal career stories. All panel members studied in Belgium and decided to start their career in the Leuven region afterwards. They will answer questions such as:
- How did they approach their job search?
- How did they experience the job application process in Belgium?
- What is it like to work as an international in Belgium?
- What tips & tricks do they have for international students and recent graduates considering a career in Belgium?
- You can also submit your question for the panel during the registration process.
We will be hosting a small networking reception after the panel discussion so that you can meet and network with other students, recent graduates and the panel members.
Good to know
The Career Talks are aimed at international students and recent graduates with limited work experience.
During the panel discussion, we will not discuss legal information about working in Belgium (single permit, search year, …). Would you like to know more about these topics? Join the virtual information session hosted by the student legal advisor (KU Leuven students only) or consult our website. For non-students you can come to one of IHL's immigration consultation hours.
Practical information & registration
- Monday 16 March 7pm – 10pm
- Location: International House Leuven, Tiensevest 60, 3000 Leuven (stairs into building without a ramp, unfortunately not accessible for wheelchairs)
- Registration: you are welcome to attend this event free of charge, but registration is required:
Registration for students: (registered via the KUL) not yet open
Registration for non-students(or students registered at another university)
About the panel members (from the previous session - current members are still to be decided)
Maira Salazar is from Brazil and arrived in Belgium to study in 2020. She graduated from KU Leuven with a BSc in Business Engineering and followed that up with an MSc in Information Management. For two years now, she’s been working in Odoo as a Software Developer. There was an overlap between her Master's and her first 7 months in Odoo, but thanks to having a flexible employer, she could complete her studies. Maira can help answering questions about juggling studies and work (both as a student employee and a full-time worker) and how the work experience has been so far.
Niki Jenabi: is currently working at Materialise as a biosafety engineer. She gained her Master’s degree from KU Leuven, then continued to live in Belgium on a search year visa and is now working on a single permit. Her field of study was biomaterials engineering. She can help by giving tips and tricks on how to survive life in Belgium as an international student and then as a fresh graduate who is navigating the job market.
Rebecca Poulsen: is a recent graduate (2022) of the KU Leuven masters in digital media and society program. She is currently self-employed through a business professional card working as a digital media consultant. She can help with the path to become self-employed (as an international) and share her experience with applying for a professional card.
Ponnapat Watjanatepin: is a PhD candidate and a research associate at the Sustainability Assessment of Materials and Circular Economy at KU Leuven. He is originally from Thailand and had graduated from KU Leuven in 2020 from Group T campus with a background in Industrial Sciences: Chemical Engineering. He can help you with his experience in working in the academia and sharing his experience of applying for a PhD.
Dylan Ward: Originally from Spain, and now based in Brussels, Dylan studied a bachelor in Sociology, and a Master in Communication Sciences in Digital Media at KU Leuven. he's currently working in the field of Digital Marketing, specifically as a growth marketer. Dylan graduated in September 2024, since then he has been an intern for around 5 months at NOOSA and now has a full-time role at Leaders of Trade since July 2025. Dylan can give some tups and tricks on how to navigate the Belgian Job market as an international student and what it's like to work remotely (as his company is based in the Netherlands).