Michigan State University Career Services Network (CSN) is hosting the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Career Fair and Symposium Feb. 1, from 3-8 p.m., at the Breslin Student Events Center. This event, which helps kick off Black History Month festivities on campus, is more than the standard career fair. It’s designed to create exposure of career opportunities with the goal of diversifying the workforce.

“This Career Fair and Symposium is important because it is an opportunity to create career opportunities and exposure for a wide range of MSU students with the focus of supporting and empowering our underrepresented student populations here on campus,” says Career Services Network Diversity Initiates Coordinator Ellise Lee. 

Lee, who organized the career fair, explains the event is open to all academic years and majors and is the biggest in-person event Career Services has hosted in several years.

“As our society continues to move into a more inclusive and equitable future, diversifying the workforce and seeking out new and innovative ways to recruit and connect with diverse talent pools is a key part of ensuring true progress,” she says.
 
Currently, there are 200 employers scheduled to attend the event with the goal of hiring students. This fair and symposium offers unique opportunities for students and employers to directly connect, share ideas and network throughout the event. 

“These employers are passionate about recruiting and retaining the talent we have on campus,” Lee says. “I am looking forward to having more opportunities in this fair and symposium for employers and students to speak directly with each other, as I feel we as staff are here to support their needs and empower them to use their own voice and build the future they seek.”

The symposium is split into four sessions meant to support the needs of both students and employers. 

“Students should expect to see employer presentations from our Unity Partners, who have dedicated both time and resources toward our DEI efforts, and an employer panel where they will be asked a series of equity-focused questions,” explains Lee. 

The presentations and panel will allow employers to talk about their company’s history and share other important points they feel students should know. This year’s CSN Unity Partners include Jackson, Keurig, Dr. Pepper, Genentech, Tenneco, and Honeywell. 

The remainder of the event will flow as a traditional career fair where students are encouraged to stop by tables of interest and learn more about available jobs and how they can apply for them. 

The event is open to all MSU undergraduate and graduate students as well as recently graduated alumni seeking internship, co-op, part-time and full-time opportunities in various fields. Student check-in begins at 3:15 p.m. and will remain open through the end of the event. Preregistration is also available on Handshake.
 
To learn more about career fairs, internships or job opportunities visit careernetwork.msu.edu.