Professionals from all over the country are logging mileage to Ann Arbor on their expense reports. Often they are Michigan alums themselves, coming back to their alma mater to serve as ambassadors for their companies. They come for job fairs, presentations and scheduled interviews.
Many companies come to campus to screen applicants for prospective jobs.
"For the southeast region alone, we are expecting to hire 120 to 130 students this year, so we are proactively recruiting students on campus," said Julie Wilhite, a recruiter from Price Waterhouse.
Other companies come to increase their name recognition among University students as well as to clarify the specific opportunities that are available.
"We want to improve the understanding that we are also a high-tech company," said Julie Yancey, managing director of development services at FedEx, who was on campus two weeks ago for the Engineering job fair. "People have walked by and they say, 'Oh, are you here to ship boxes back for all the other companies?'"
Often, companies that are well-known in other regions come to the University to increase their visibility among students.
Regardless of their profile on campus, companies are here to meet students and answer their questions.
"It seems that recruiters are as eager as we are to establish relationships," said Lauren Barnett, an LSA senior majoring in economics. "I went to the Bear Stearns info session where I was able to gain knowledge and to determine that the representatives of the company really do live up to their reputation."
Recruiters know that if they want their company to grow, they have to bring in new people.
"Graduates often have high ideals and while they might not have developed all the skill sets necessary, they bring fresh ideas and fresh energy to our company," said Chin Chao, a 1994 Engineering graduate who was on campus recently to represent McMaster-Carr, an industrial supply company.
"We are looking for people that ask a lot of questions and are eager to prove themselves," said Anne Dakmak, an account representative of Entertainment Publications Inc.
Bevin Desmond from Morningstar, a financial services and information firm in Chicago, said, "The students who impress me the most are the ones who are willing to initiate, come prepared and present themselves well. These are the things that get you remembered."
Often, hiring managers look for people who would have a certain commitment to stay and would, therefore, be candidates for further advancement into management positions.
"We would hope to get long-term people who might start out in sales and move to management," said Marsha Berger, personnel director at Coachman, a recreational vehicle company.
Alum Matt Hilzinger developed a training program at the Handleman Company that has been filled solely by University graduates in its first two years. The program targets graduating seniors that involves rotations through five functional divisions within the company.
JOE WESTRATE/Daily
Matt Spurko, a representative from Kodak, speaks with Engineering senior Steven Christenson at the Engineering Career Fair, held earlier this month.