The Michigan Collegiate Job Fair was hosted by Eastern Michigan University Friday at Burton Manor, located at 27777 Schoolcraft Road in Livonia, Mich., where hundreds of graduate students came from various universities across the state to apply for jobs and meet with potential employers.
“It’s good for the graduate students to get a foot in the door with employers that they otherwise may have not considered if they wouldn’t have had that time face to face,” said Lauren Hunt, an EMU graduate student in human resources and organizational development.
This year the fair came together with LiveWorkDetroit! to promote the city as a place with many employment opportunities.
Employers from Aflac, CBS, Toys R Us, Agate Software, various police departments and various universities were at the event, as well as retail companies, insurance companies and government agencies.
Most of the employers at the fair were looking for business, liberal arts, engineering, technology and allied health positions.
“This is my fifth or sixth job fair and I was much more comfortable here. You get cards, numbers and better follow up by emailing them. It’s all about experience,” EMU student Dan Robinson, co-president
of the dean’s Board of Students, said.
Ebony Jones, senior corporations relations manager at EMU’s University Advising and Career Development Center, coordinated the event.
“This is a great opportunity for any student who’s looking for an internship opportunity or who’s graduating looking for a full time entry-level position,” she said. “There are over a hundred employers here with active job openings, and each employer is looking to recruit for at least three positions.”
The next career fair will be March 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will also take place at Burton Manor.
“This is a great opportunity, I cannot stress that enough,” Jones said. “I know a lot of times students don’t like to attend job fairs because they can go and apply online, but even though that may be the case it’s still a great opportunity to have face-to-face time with employers so they can actually put a name to the application once it’s received and build those relationships early so that they’re able to make that connection when it’s time to actually interview.”
