Oakland University will give students an opportunity to connect with companies for future employment at the 2012 Winter Career Fair which will be held in the banquet rooms upstairs in the Oakland Center on Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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

The fair focuses primarily on business, liberal arts, engineering and computer science majors.

According to Michelle Serafino, career consultant and the coordinator of the event, 50 employers are registered but she estimates to have 70 to 75 employers for the event.

With over 50 different companies present, students and alumni are given the opportunity to network and meet with various establishments for potential internships or employment opportunities

This will not exclude freshman from the fair. First-year students are encouraged to come for the experience and to network with future employers.

“It’s never too early, at the very least they get to network and get familiar with the process, at (the least) they can end up with an internship or entry level position,” Serafino said.

Professional dress is required, as the objective of the career fair is to connect students and alumni with employers for internship, part time, full time, and co-op positions.

Each employer will have a table displaying information about their company and available positions. Students and alumni are encouraged to bring a copy of their resume.

Denise McConkey is a career consultant at OU.  She says she’s excited about student opportunities.

“It’s a good opportunity to connect with employers and learn about open positions,” McConkey said.

The fair will serve as a place to let employers know what the students are looking for, and in return, help students become more involved in their major and on campus.

According to Serafino, some of the employers may have an eye out for recruiting summer interns.

“We encourage students, even if they are not currently looking for a job to go,” McConkey said.  “(Students) learn from it so when they are ready to find a position they know what to expect and are more prepared.”

The career services website offers videos on  career fair success and stand out resumes.

To see a list of employers registered, positions sought at oakland.edu/careerservices or call Michelle Serafino at 248-370-3215.

Contact Stephanie Preweda via email at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @stephsocool.