Dozens of employers to recruit students at UM-Flint Career Fair Oct. 27

Brice Hamilton had a job in Frankenmuth that most college students would envy. But he wasn't interested in making it a career.

The accounting major was tending bar poolside, serving food and settling tabs. Yet, Hamilton had his sights set on a different kind of bottom line.

The Flushing resident knew finding it would require making the right connections. So, he registered for the University of Michigan-Flint School of Management's Career Fair.

His decision paid off.

Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Advisors hired Hamilton as a temporary tax assistant in Flint. That role culminated in May with a two-day Summer Leadership Program. This program allowed Hamilton to meet the CEO, network with employees and participate in team-building exercises. Additionally, Plante Moran offered him an internship for summer 2027, which he accepted.

A professional portrait of a young man with a mustache wearing a button-up shirt and tie with his arms crossed. The background features tall windows through which one can see a park with trees. — *Hamilton*

"One of the event's biggest benefits is networking directly with employers," said Hamilton, now a senior. "Students get to learn about different opportunities that they may not have considered otherwise."

When and where is the Career Fair?

The career fair will take place from 1-4 p.m., Oct. 27, at the School of Management, located inside the Riverfront Center. Parking is available across Saginaw Street at the University Pavilion.

The event is free and open to students and alumni of all majors.

Earlier in the month, the university's College of Innovation & Technology will host its own career fair on Oct. 7. That event is limited to CIT students and alumni.

What are the benefits of attending the School of Management's Career Fair?

Attendees at the SOM Career Fair will gain access to:

Employers.
Professional portraits.
Guidance from the Office of Graduate Programs.

Career fairs are worth the effort of attending, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Its latest survey of 258 colleges and universities found that:

More than half of college students attended career fairs.
More than one-third of attendees participated in interviews after career fairs.
About one in five career fair attendees received a job or internship offer.

Access to employers

The SOM event will provide access to more than two dozen employers offering full- and part-time jobs as well as internships. These employers represent more than a dozen industries. At the time of publication, the list of employers included:

Employer	Industry
Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC	Accounting
Lewis & Knopf, P.C.	Accounting
Mattina, Kent & Gibbons, P.C.	Accounting
Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Advisors	Accounting
Flint & Genesee Group	Business associations
Goyette Mechanical	Construction
Niles Industrial Coatings	Construction
RAFTRx Roofing and Exteriors	Construction
Dort Financial Credit Union	Financial services
Hantz Group	Financial services
New York Life – Michigan	Financial services
PNC	Financial services
Priority 1 Lending – Troy	Financial services
Sovita Credit Union	Financial services
United Wholesale Mortgage	Financial services
Genesee County	Government administration
Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity	Government administration
State Budget Office of Michigan	Government administration
Michigan Department of Treasury	Government administration
Kelly Services	Human resources
Pinnacle Life Group	Insurance
Federal Bureau of Investigation – Detroit Office	Law enforcement
Michigan Department of Corrections – Alger Correctional Facility	Law enforcement
Vantage Plastics	Manufacturing
Meijer	Retail
Sherwin Williams	Retail
Traverse City Pit Spitters	Spectator sports
Avis Budget Group	Travel
Dayton Freight	Truck transportation
Fastenal	Wholesale

SOM's staff expects more employers to register as the event date draws nearer.

Free professional portraits

Attendees can obtain free professional headshots at the career fair that will be suitable for use on employment websites like LinkedIn, Indeed and Handshake.

Guidance from the Office of Graduate Programs

Attendees will also be able to speak with Danton Porto, marketing coordinator, from the Office of Graduate Programs. Porto can answer questions about UM-Flint's:

Twenty-three joint bachelor's plus graduate degree programs.
Twenty-seven graduate degree programs.
Fifteen dual graduate degree programs.
Fourteen graduate certificate programs.
Eleven doctoral programs.

Business students will also earn 10 Career Development Requirements points for attending.

How can people prepare for the Career Fair?

Job seekers should prepare for the career fair by attending workshops, acquiring business attire (if needed) and bringing printed resumes.

Attending workshops

The university will host eight events to help people prepare for the career fair. These events include:

Date & Time	Event
Sept. 23, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.	Prepare for Career Fair Success
Sept. 30, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.	Resume Remix
Sept. 30, 3-4 p.m.	Pop-up Resume Reviews
Oct. 7, 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.	Maximizing Your Professional Presence
Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.	JCPenney Suit Up
Oct. 13, 2-3 p.m.	Level up Your LinkedIn Profile
Oct. 14, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.	Career Readiness Day
Oct. 21, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.	Perfecting Your 30-Second Pitch

Acquiring business attire

Job seekers can improve their odds of success by wearing formal business attire, according to UM-Flint's Career Services. Those who need such clothes have two affordable options available through the university.

First, Career Services is hosting a JCPenney Suit-Up event, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 10 at the retailer's Genesee Valley Center location, 3535 South Linden Road.

Additionally, UM-Flint offers free, gently used business attire at Wolverine Essentials, 390 Harding Mott University Center. This confidential service is available Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1-4 p.m.