Registration Deadline for the November 4 MiVirtualCareerFair is October 22. Get Registered Now!

Join other top Michigan employers on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 for MiVirtualCareerFair from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. EST.  Connect with top talent from across Michigan and the globe, without having to leave your office. MiVirtualCareerFair is another great tool by Pure Michigan Talent Connect to bring together Michigan companies and jobseekers! Business in Michigan is thriving, and MiVirtualCareerFairs are the state of Michigan’s hottest new way to find talent.

Why Should You Register?

• Attend a career fair without the costs associated with travel, food or lodging.
• Customize your virtual booth to match your corporate employment brand.
• Interact via instant chat with candidates and search for top talent.
• Receive in-depth, post-event reporting, including chat transcripts.

Exhibitor Rates:  $300.00 

All Exhibitor Registration Forms must be returned completed and signed by the specified deadlines.

All Exhibitor Booths must be completed by the booth building deadline: October 23, 2015

All Exhibitors must have a minimum of 2 staff members participate in their booth through the duration of the event 10AM-4PM EST.

Employers interested in participating in the event must complete a “2015 MiVirtualCareerFair Exhibitor Registration Form” and return it to Jessica Scott, Departmental Analyst with the Talent Investment Agency, at ScottJ21@michigan.gov.

Want to Learn More About MiVirtualCareerFairs?

Pure Michigan Talent Connect will host multiple webinar training sessions to promote MiVirtualCareerFair and show employers a demo on how to utilize the virtual environment to meet their talent needs. Employers can register here then click on the webinar session you wish to attend. 

 For additional information and questions, please contact Jessica Scott at ScottJ21@michigan.gov.

The idiom “don’t judge a book by its cover” is a tired phase in the English language but that doesn’t make it false, especially when it comes to the skills and talent needed to work in manufacturing.

Common misperceptions about what manufacturing is has created a public image that is significantly different from reality. It’s this gap between false ideas and truth that sparked the creation of Manufacturing Day, celebrating what modern manufacturing is and inspiring the industry’s next generation. Events at manufacturing facilities were held on Oct. 2 across the United States to commemorate the day.

Put together by the National Association of Manufacturers and multiple national professional groups associated with the industry, the day is designed to give a voice for individual manufacturing employers, allowing the companies to feel empowered and come together to address collective challenges.

In Michigan, events were planned in 88 different locations, from Traverse City to Dearborn.

As the home to North America’s auto industry and a key player in the manufacturing industry, Michigan is a stakeholder in the global economy. The Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA), representing nearly 2,500 companies in the largest sector of the state’s economy, reports more than 598,000 Michiganders are employed in manufacturing.

It was manufacturing that took the wheel in the state’s economic recovery, with an estimated 157,000 manufacturing jobs being created since the summer of 2009, according to the MMA, which goes on to report the state has led the nation in manufacturing job growth for the last five years.

While the resurgence of manufacturing has been welcomed, there is a concern about the shortage of skilled workers.  A 2009 report from The Workforce Alliance states Michigan could lose almost 200,000 experienced middle-skill workers by 2020. These skilled workers are employed in multiple segments of the economy, including manufacturing and medical. Industry officials cite the loss of talent as a combination of experienced workers retiring and the misconception of youth about the field.

Manufacturing work is not long hours in a dark and dirty shop, but a rewarding career choice that takes skills and talent. Middle skilled trade jobs for multiple industries, including manufacturing, represent a third of Michigan’s employment base, according to state officials. These jobs don’t require a four-year degree but typically involve education beyond high school along with on-the-job training. The state also reports 10 of the key occupations in Michigan’s manufacturing industry earn a median wage of more than $15 per hour.

Manufacturing has been and will continue to be an integral part of Michigan’s ability to compete in the global economy and a source of employment. By celebrating this Manufacturing Day, the industry is able to highlight the role it has played in Michigan’s recovery, as well as the value industry plays as an employer and the benefits of working in manufacturing.

Interested in learning more? Visit the Michigan Manufacturers Association and National Manufacturing Day websites to explore the initiative more in depth and find events happening in your area.

Many dedicated Michigan citizens have served in the U.S. Armed Forces - whether they are still in the reserves, recently discharged, or served many years ago - these men and women have earned our assistance in breaking down barriers to employment, education, health care and quality of life. At the Veteran Expos, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) brings together service providers, veteran community organizations, employers, colleges and universities and many others to provide veterans with one-stop, face-to-face access to all necessary resources

And it's not just a resource fair - many exhibitors will provide on-site services as well, including health screenings and DD-214 printing.

Upcoming Veteran Expos this fall include:

Flint

Friday, November 6: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. & Saturday, November 7: 9 a.m. to Noon

Click here to register for the Flint Expo in November.

Questions about the Expo? Call 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838).

The Pure Michigan Talent Connect team is hosting multiple webinars in 2015 to show users how to get the most out of MiTalent.org.  Join the team on October 28th at 10 a.m. to learn about:

• Posting a job
• Searching for candidates
• Performing email blasts
• Maintaining your job postings
• Other available resources

To register email us at TalentConnect@michigan.gov. Please  indicate you would like to participate in the October 28th Employer webinar.