On November 13, the Universidad ORT Uruguay School of Business Universidad ORT Uruguay 919 Luis de la Torre, Pocitos Campus) hosted the Employment Month | Business & Architecture, the first job fair organized jointly by the School of Architecture and the School of Business and Social Sciences.
As part of the ORT 2025 Employment Month, the organization launched a program specifically designed for students in Architecture and Business, combining company booths, workshops, interactive activities, and networking opportunities that bridged the gap between academia and the professional world.
Employment Month for the Entire University
Since 2013, the university has organized Employment Month at the School of Engineering, an event that has established itself as a benchmark for strengthening the employer brand and attracting young talent. In 2025, this initiative was expanded for the first time to all schools, with three days of activities tailored to each academic area.
In total, more than 5,000 students participated in the activities and 75 companies and institutions took part in Employment Month, setting a record for the initiative.
The Business & Architecture Conference marked the conclusion of this series and allowed the School of Architecture to host its own job fair as part of the institutional calendar.
- To learn more about ORT’s Employment Month, you can read: “First edition of ORT’s Employment Month, featuring 75 companies and thousands of students”
A first step in a career in architecture
The Event Employment Month | Business & Architecture took place at the Business School on the Pocitos Campus. It was aimed at students and graduates of the School of Architecture and the School of Management and Social Sciences, and was organized by the ORT Central Alumni Service, in collaboration with both faculties.
Presented as “a space for exchange between students, graduates, and organizations in the business and architecture sectors,” the event aimed to connect future professionals with leading companies so they could learn about their projects, culture, and job opportunities, while also sharing their own profiles and interests.
The fair was open to visitors at any time of day without prior registration, while the workshops had specific capacity limits and required registration. This allowed each student to plan their own itinerary and, based on their interests, combine participation in educational activities with direct interaction at the booths.
Opportunities for aspiring architects
Throughout the day, the basement and ground floor of the Business School were transformed into a fair featuring booths where companies had exclusive spaces to connect with students and graduates.
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Through these booths, they presented their proposals, shared their organizational culture, and promoted their job opportunities, creating an environment conducive to identifying strategic candidates and building long-term relationships.
The companies and organizations in the construction and design sector that participated in the event played a leading role. Among them were Bauten Construcciones, CUSAI, ADDIP, Contract Workplaces, MAG | Montevideo Architectural Group, Nova Construcciones, and Sureste Construcciones.
These are stakeholders representing the the construction ecosystem, architectural and engineering services, and interior design in Uruguay, with experience in residential, corporate, commercial, and educational architecture projects, among others.
In addition to these, the fair brought together companies and organizations from other sectors that complement the professional landscape for students and graduates, such as Zonamerica, PwC, República AFAP, AFAP Itaú, AFAP SURA, Santander, KPMG, BDO, Conaprole, Buen Provecho, Uruguay XXI, Endeavor, Trafigura, MATRIZ, Susana Pérez Sotelo, Goodlife, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Universidad ORT Uruguay itself, as well as L’Oréal, which was also present with its own booth.
For architecture and interior design students and graduates, the fair was an opportunity to learn firsthand how these organizations operate, what profiles they are looking for, what their main areas of activity are, and what types of projects professionals trained at the school can get involved in, both in the fields of construction and design as well as in other sectors of the job market.
- You might also be interested in reading: “First Architecture Week in Uruguay”
A fair focused on human connection
Beyond the facts and figures, the fair was experienced as an opportunity for people to meet face to face.
As noted by Santiago Romero, B.A., Int. Des., academic advisor and graduate of the Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design and a senior in the Architecture program at ORT, the event demonstrated that a career start does not always come from a resume sent via email or a notification on social media, but rather from direct conversation and a personal connection.
The companies not only presented their opportunities, but also proposed activities, games, challenges, and exercises designed to connect with students and graduates in an authentic way. This playful and interactive format allowed participants to ask questions, share their interests, and better understand what organizations expect from new professionals. Romero emphasized that, among the talks, technology, activities, and prizes, the most valuable takeaway from the fair was real connections, new insights, and a great sense of motivation.
- You might also be interested in reading: “Interview with Darío Fernández, B.A., Int. Des.: LSU, accessibility, and a well-deserved graduation”
Tools for Employability: Employment Month Workshops
In addition to the trade show, the Business & Architecture Employment Month included a series of specialized workshops designed to enhance the employability of students and graduates in the areas of digital identity, personal branding, and job search. All activities took place on November 13 at the Business School and were organized by the ORT Central Graduate Services.
The workshop “Come Get Your LinkedIn Photo” was held in two sessions, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Through a personalized photo shoot, students and graduates were able to get a polished, professional profile photo for their LinkedIn profiles. The initiative aimed to strengthen the first impression they make online and support their digital presence; in total, 210 students participated in this activity.
In “LinkedIn: Your Professional Digital Identity”, held from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., participants learned how to optimize their profiles on the leading professional social network. Aimed at students and graduates, the workshop covered topics such as choosing a profile photo and cover photo, positioning yourself on the platform, using keywords aligned with your professional profile, writing a summary, using the job search feature, and leveraging opportunities that appear in your feed, as well as building a strong professional network. The session was led by Natalia Cambón and was fully booked.
The workshop “Personal Branding for Freelancers”, held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., focused on how to develop a personal brand to position oneself in an increasingly competitive job market. Addressing questions such as how to build a memorable profile, what sets each professional apart, and how to attract regional or international clients, Carolina Curbelo presented examples and success stories to help develop strategies for impact and visibility, particularly relevant for those establishing themselves as independent professionals.
Finally, “Job hunting: a back-and-forth of questions and answers”, which took place from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., provided a dynamic space to address questions about the entire job search process, from the resume to the interview. Led by Carolina Bonaldi, participants were able to ask questions about interviews, selection processes, how to present themselves, and resume writing, including questions related to compatibility with AI-based tools.
- You might also be interested in reading: “Casa FOA comes to Uruguay, and the Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design will take center stage”
Networking and a first day for many careers
In addition to the fair activities and workshops, Employment Month included a networking coffee with representatives from companies in various sectors. The event featured leaders in talent, innovation, and human resources, who shared their insights on labor market trends, the skills most valued in young talent, and opportunities for collaboration on internships, projects, and academic activities.
As the first job fair organized for the School of Architecture as part of ORT Employment Month, the event marked a milestone in the faculty’s academic and professional calendar. By bringing together company booths, specialized workshops, and networking spaces, it reaffirmed Universidad ORT Uruguay commitment Universidad ORT Uruguay employability, professional development , and the link between architecture education and the professional world.