Employers to vie for job, intern candidates at spring career fairs

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Hundreds of employers will be at Western Michigan University during the spring semester to participate in career fairs and vie for candidates to fill full- and part-time jobs as well as internships and co-op positions.

The WMU-organized events are free and open to the public, although tailored to college students and recent college graduates. They begin Thursday, Jan. 30, and conclude Wednesday, April 22. All but one takes place in Kalamazoo on the University's Main Campus.

No registration is necessary to attend the fairs, but there will be a check-in station at many of the events. Numerous employers will conduct next-day interviews on campus with their selected first-round candidates.

The biggest spring event is the annual February Career Fair, which already has about 140 employers signed up to participate. It focuses on those seeking employment in areas such as business; health care; aviation; human development; and the liberal arts, fine arts and soft sciences.

Collectively, some 200 employers already have registered to participate in WMU's other two showcase events. They are the Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics Job Fair and Government and Nonprofit Job Fair.

upcoming events

• Thursday, Jan. 30—Integrated Supply Management Career Night sponsored by IDEX, 5 to 8:30 p.m., Bernhard Center.
• Wednesday, Feb. 5—Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Job Fair, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Bernhard Center.
• Wednesday, Feb. 5—Marketing, Food/Sales Marketing Career Night sponsored by Ethos Group, 5 to 8 p.m., Fetzer Center.
• Thursday, Feb. 6—Annual Career Fair, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Bernhard Center.
• Friday, Feb. 7—Government and Nonprofit Job Fair, 1 to 4 p.m., Bernhard Center.
• Friday, April 3—Aviation Outlook Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aviation Education Center, College of Aviation site in Battle Creek.
• Wednesday, April 22—Education Career Fair, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Bernhard Center.

General information

Members of the public, along with students and alumni from WMU and other area colleges and universities, are welcome to attend as many career fairs as they wish.

Job seekers should review the lists posted online of employers that have registered to date to participate in the upcoming events as well as to note the types of positions they have open. WMU students should bring their Bronco ID to each event they attend.

All WMU students are encouraged to get ready for the upcoming fairs by attending preparatory events designed solely for them by the University's Career and Student Employment Services and by taking advantage of this office's resume critiquing, walk-in advising and practice interview services. In addition, WMU business students also should take advantage of the additional services and preparation events offered by the Zhang Career Center in the University's Haworth College of Business.

For more information about the upcoming career fairs, click Calendar of Events on the homepage of the Career and Student Employment Services website and the Zhang Career Center website.

Free parking will be available close to each event. General parking information also is available online. To obtain a University map, visit the maps website.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.