Created by students from MPowered Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan, Startup Career Fair is the only career fair on campus designed solely for startups and small businesses. The fair taps into our entrepreneurial ecosystem to bring you U-M’s best developers, designers, engineers, and business students, and companies will be able to hand-select potential recruits who are truly interested in what they do. They will also have the chance to strengthen their connections with each other in pre- and post-fair events.

This is the career fair for startups, aiming to showcase startup culture—no dress code, relaxed atmosphere, and more opportunities for organic conversation. Companies in attendance will be able to enjoy the recruiting process, meet other startup folks from around the country, and see what the University of Michigan truly has to offer when it comes to raw, entrepreneurial talent.

• Deadline for Company Registration:  Monday, December 15th, 2014
• Event Date/Time: Thursday, January 15th, 2014; 1:00-5:00 p.m.
• Location:  University of Michigan, North Campus

For more information, and to sign up to participate, go to: http://mpowered.umich.edu/careerfair/.

The Michigan Advanced Technician Training (MAT2) program was built to help companies find the talent they need, while also allowing young people to grow, professionally and personally, through extended company sponsorship.  To this end, we’re looking to expand our industry partnerships for the 2014 MAT2 IT program, and are looking for companies who either (1) have a current or projected need for versatile and capable IT talent, or (2) are committed to enhancing and growing Michigan’s young talent into a highly skilled and qualified workforce, as well as growing their own employees from the ground up.

There are currently ten highly screened, high potential students participating in the MAT2 IT program, for whom we’re looking to find the perfect employer match.  This year, there are two ways to get involved in the 2014 MAT2 IT program:

1. Traditional Model: Companies may interview the available students, and choose to hire one (or more) for the duration of the program.
2. Test-Drive Option: Companies may interview the available students, and hire one (or more) for 8-week, paid internships, which will start in January of 2015, allowing companies to “test drive” potential employees to determine whether they’re a fit with the company.

This second option allows greater flexibility for potential industry partners, and alleviates the pressure to make a long-term commitment to an employee before understanding their fit with the company.

The ten available candidates are currently in their first school period at Oakland Community College, and prior to the January 2014 work period, will have taken courses in networking, information systems, customer service, technical project management, and system support, will have completed a comprehensive “Practicum” (assessment of hands-on skill), and will have taken the Microsoft exam MS 70-680 (Windows 7).  Before the end of year one, students will have also earned Network+ certification from CompTIA, and will have taken the MS 70-410 Microsoft exam (Windows Server 2012).

If you are interested in this opportunity and would like to learn more, please contact Ryan Hundt, Project Coordinator, Michigan Economic Development Corporation at hundtr1@michigan.org, 517.241.2617.

The founding partners of the Michigan Internship Initiative, Hello West Michigan and the Prima Civitas Foundation, have focused the initiative on connecting employers, educational institutions and workforce development, while providing employers with the resources necessary to build a successful internship program. There are several tools and initiatives aimed at connecting interns (talent) to employers, but it is imperative that the right structure is in place to make that connection a success.

If you are an employer interested in learning more about starting an internship program, or are looking to enhance your current internship program, there are several upcoming opportunities to do so! Simply choose the session that works best with your schedule:

• November 18, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Grand Valley State University UClub -Grand Rapids
• January 8, 8-10 a.m., Hope College - Holland
• January 15, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Davenport University - Grand Rapids
• February 13, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Baker College of Muskegon - Muskegon
• March 24, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Grand Valley State University UClub - Grand Rapids
• April 21, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Hope College - Holland
• May 14, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Davenport University - Grand Rapid

Space is limited. Click here to reserve your spot.

Visit http://www.hellowestmichigan.com/Work-Here/Employer-Internship-Toolkit for more information.

We've got talent, yes we do!  Here are some jobseekers looking to bring value to a great company or organization.  If any of these individuals might be a great fit with your organization, send an email to piercer2@michigan.org to learn more.  Make sure to specify in your email who you are inquiring about.

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S.E. is looking for an opportunity to bring his exceptional customer service and communication skills to a great company.  S.E. possesses a diverse wealth of experience in the transportation industry, including recruitment, operations, and dispatch.  S.E. also brings experience in office management and benefits coordination.  S.E. has extensive supervisory experience, with a proven track record of success and increasing responsibility.  

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S.T. offers 12 years experience building and leading first-rate teams. He specializes in commercializing category-creating products, platform technologies, and disruptive innovations.  Most recently, S.T. is one of two founders of a startup that developed and launched a disruptive technology product currently on its 2nd generation and sold in over 30 countries. As with building any company from the ground up, S.T. wore several hats tying together product development, marketing, branding, and sales. With the inherent resource limitations that every company must balance, he continually evaluated the evolving landscape to strategically formulate and attack the path of highest growth potential at lowest risk. The result, a category-creating consumer electronic product and lifestyle brand targeting a market demonstrated to be a $10 billion opportunity. 

With degrees from the University of Michigan (masters in chemical engineering and bachelors in naval architecture & marine engineering), S.T. and his wife are looking to move back to Michigan to be closer to their families. He is currently interested in employment or consulting opportunities in Michigan that involve technology commercialization.