Job seekers and Michigan employers can connect with one another through a state-sponsored virtual career fair on Wednesday, August 12th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pure Michigan Talent Connect's MiVirtualCareerFairs bring together Michigan employers and talent from across the state and the globe in an online, virtual environment. You can participate from the comfort of your home, the library and even from your phone! With assistance from the Michigan Works! System we have 30 Michigan employers that will be featured during the event from varying industries. This event will also have the education sector represented for any individuals looking for post-secondary educational opportunities. Participation is free to job seekers! Check out MiTalent.org/virtualcareerfair for a list of participating employers for the August 12th, 2015 MiVirtualCareerFair.

During MiVirtualCareerFairs, event participants can:

• Communicate in group chats and private chat messages with employers.
• Upload, view, and search for job postings and apply directly from the site.
• Interact with other participants in the Networking Lounge.
• Explore career development resources in the Resource Lounge.
• Talk with Pure Michigan Talent Connect Staff about your job search and learn more about utilizing MiTalent.org for your job search.
• Interested in finding opportunities in the non-profit sector? The Michigan Non-profit Association will provide assistance and resources to those interested in the non-profit sector.
• Veterans can connect with staff at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) booth to learn about veterans benefits in Michigan.
• Interested in post-secondary education? Connect with one of the many representatives from colleges and universities from across the state of Michigan.
• Access archived job openings for 30 days after event. You can come back in and apply for jobs or search for specific employers to follow up with.

How to participate:

1. We recommend that before the event, you create or update your account on the Pure Michigan Talent Connect site, www.MiTalent.org. Utilize the Pure Michigan Talent Connect tools and resources to build, post, or upload your resume and gain 24/7 exposure to additional employers seeking talent before, during, and after the event.

2. Register for the event by Wednesday, August 12, 2015. After registering for the event, log in, update your profile, and upload your resume.

3. Attend the virtual career fair on August 12th! On the day of the event, representatives from exhibiting companies will be available virtually from 10:00am to 4:00pm to answer questions and accept job applications. You will have access to all company postings and transcripts of your interactions for 30 days following the event.

Participating job seeker tips:

Do Your Homework. Before the event, take some time to learn about the organizations attending the career fair. You can see a full list of participating employers at mitalent.org/virtualcareerfair.

Be organized and engaged. Have questions prepared ahead of time that you’d like to ask participating employers. Engage with representatives in the booth group chat room or in a private chat message to keep conversation going and leave the employer with a positive impression of you.

Keep the Dialogue Professional. Even though it is an online event, you should still use complete sentences and proper grammar for chat conversations with potential employers.

Be Patient. Technology is a great tool but it is not a perfect system. Errors and other technical difficulties may arise and cause event attendees to experience delays. In addition, organization representatives may be managing several conversations at once so it could be a few minutes before they can address your question or comment. Interviews are not guaranteed and you may have to go to an employer’s external website to apply for positions

More than 3,000 job seekers participated in the May 13 MiVirtualCareerFair. In addition to the August 12 virtual career fair, there will be one more event in 2015 on Wednesday, Nov. 4th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.