Virtual Job Fair connected students with employers

Every year, Macomb’s Career Services Department holds a job fair to match Macomb students and graduates with hiring employees. And, despite COVID-19, this year was no different.

Approximately 270 participants attended a virtual job fair on Thursday, Nov. 5, and spoke directly with representatives from 44 local employers. Industries represented included construction, health care, hospitality, information technology, advanced manufacturing, banking and retail.

Sessions were held in both the morning and afternoon, with interviews conducted for both partand full-time positions. Prior to the job fair, participants submitted a personal profile and professional resume that was provided to the employers. Likewise, job seekers were provided with a list of participating companies.

“It was a safe and convenient way to scout for a job and to see the many options out there,” said David Holt Jr., a welding student at Macomb. “One of the (representatives) at a booth I visited offered to send my resume to the company owner.”

Each

encounter

with an

employer began as a text and evolved into a video chat if the employer and job seeker’s interests aligned. Josh Erickson, marketing and innovation development associate with PMG Inc., a Minnesotabased manufacturing labor solutions company, “chatted” with 21 job seekers during the course of the fair.

“The platform worked very well, and the event had higher traffic volume than I normally see on virtual events,” says Erickson. “I was interviewing for technician positions, and we have a number that we will screen further.”