As headlines of a broken job market and a lack of hiring opportunities fill the news, hundreds of companies came to campus Wednesday to prove they still are on the hunt for strong candidates for employment.
More than 250 companies gathered in Breslin Center during a two-day period for the 2012 MSU Career Gallery to give students the opportunity to take the first step in finding a job.
The event is split into two exchanges — the science engineering and technology exchange Wednesday and the business exchange Thursday.
This year, the 2012 MSU Career Gallery featured the highest number of companies in the event’s history, said Vern Mason, senior associate director of MSU’s Lear Corporation Career Services Center and one of the event organizers. Mason said the 2012 MSU Career Gallery is the largest career fair in Michigan and this year, the space allotted for each company was reduced and there was a waiting list.
“(It’s) an excellent way for (students and employers) to meet and speak at a personal level,” Mason said.
Mason said the reason companies attended the 2012 MSU Career Gallery is because they are looking to hire and make it clear there are jobs available.
“The news is — companies and organizers are back,” Mason said.
“(The gallery) is an opportunity to say ‘companies are here (and) there (are) jobs.’”
Dressed in suits, ties and heels, students from all majors and interests attended the event, many hoping to impress some of the world’s top companies.
Chemical engineering senior Nick Rowland said he came to the fair looking for a full-time job as a chemical engineer. He said he talked to some “big hitters,” including Dow Chemical, Eli Lilly and Company and Marathon Oil Corporation, and handed out his résumé to let companies know where his interests lie.
Rowland said events such as the 2012 MSU Career Gallery offer a unique means of connecting students with employers, usually available only in college years.
“In college, you get all the career galleries coming to you, (and) later in life you have to do it yourself,” Rowland said. “(It) makes it easy.”
Rowland said he is ready for a job interview with Dow Corning scheduled for Monday.
Mason said companies often come to Michigan in search of the “Midwest work ethic.”
“Companies come to MSU because (they know) students are looking for jobs,” Mason said.
Mason said this year, more than 300 interviews between companies and students have been lined up after each day of the gallery — the highest number in the event’s history.
Assistant Vice President of Human Resources for Union Pacific Railroad Ed Willis said his company has been coming to MSU to recruit students for more than 10 years.
“We continue to find great candidates,” Willis said, adding Union Pacific Railroad is looking to hire about 200 new employees, interns and full-time staff.
He said the company is returning to MSU in two weeks to interview students.
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