Engineers Invited To Come Home To Michigan In Feb. 24 Event
What a difference a year or two makes -- the Job Hub 2011 recruitment event, sponsored by economic development departments from cities across Oakland and Macomb counties, actually has more jobs than applicants, especially in engineering.
"Oakland Macomb Job Hub 2011: Where Oakland Macomb Employers Meet SE Michigan Job Seekers" will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24 at Oakland University in Rochester.
Laurie Johnson, Economic Development Coordinator for the City of Auburn Hills and an event organizer, said 54 employers are signed up thus far and 300 applicants.
"The majority of employers who have signed up to participate in the Job Hub 2011 are seeking engineers and information technology professionals, Johnson said. "Bright Automotive, for example, hopes to fill its previously announced 200 engineering jobs largely through the Job Hub. Many of Michigan's engineers left the state in 2008 and 2009 for new career opportunities when they lost their jobs here. We want those former Michiganders to come home and apply their skills in our state and our region again."
Other engineer-seeking companies signed up to participate in the Oakland Macomb Job Hub 2011 include Dow Corning, Fanuc Robotics, Magna eCar, Gibbs Technology, ALTe, and Rayconnect.
Johnson adds that other employers at the Job Hub are looking to fill non-engineering positions.
"Health care jobs in customer service and patient care are available from Wright and Filippis," Johnson said. "The Art Institute is hiring for faculty, sales and admissions positions. State Farm has a need for insurance agents and Arvin Meritor has openings for analyst, manufacturing and marketing positions. While there may be an emphasis on engineers, the need for other specialty areas is still significant."
In addition to Auburn Hills, participating communities include Rochester, Rochester Hills, Madison Heights, Southfield, Sterling Heights, Warren and Troy, as well as Michigan Works, Expetec Technology Services, the Rochester Downtown Development Authority, Young Professionals of Rochester, Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College and host sponsor, Oakland University.
Oakland Macomb Job Hub 2011 employer participants do not need to be based in these cities; nor do career fair participants. Applicants seeking to return to Michigan are encouraged to participate. The event is open to the first 73 companies that have immediate full-time job openings to fill in Southeast Michigan. Participation is on a first come, first served basis and there is a $100 charge for employers. They must have several jobs to fill over the next year to participate and are required to staff a table for the duration of the event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pre-registration for interested companies is required and can be found online at www.mijobhub.com. Staffing companies may not participate in Oakland Macomb Job Hub 2011 unless they have verification of a large customer contract that begins in the immediate future and requires placement of at least one year. Job seekers must register on-line at www.mijobhub.com by Thursday, Feb. 17.
Out-of-state job seekers that cannot be present should forward their resumes to mgentry@rochesterhills.org so their credentials can be reviewed by participating employers.
The Oakland University Student Center is 2200 N. Squirrel Road in Rochester. The university is not in session that week, so ample parking will be available on campus.
