On July 21st, 2020, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! (UPMW) hosted its first-ever Virtual Job Fair featuring employers from across the Upper Peninsula. This event, using the Brazen virtual job fair platform, gave job seekers and employers the ability to network from the comfort of their own home while maintaining social distancing and helping to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The Brazen platform was provided by the State of Michigan for use by Michigan Works! agencies throughout the state. On this platform, job seekers and employers can connect via an easy-to-use chat and video function, discuss a pre-loaded resume, and follow up with one another by composing and sending notes after their allotted chat time has ended.
Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!’s event drew interest from around the Upper Peninsula. 109 individuals signed up for a Brazen account, 82 candidates registered for the event, and 59 candidates participated in the event resulting in 93 total chats with the 23 employers in attendance.
Employers who attended represented a diverse cross-section of the Upper Peninsula’s economy. Employers included CCI Systems, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Systems Control, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, Adult Learning Systems, and the Michigan State Police.
If you’re an employer or job seeker who would like to participate in a virtual job fair in the future, you’re in luck. UPMW will be hosting more virtual job fairs soon! For updates regarding job fairs, or other events hosted by UPMW and its partners, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @UPMichiganWorks.
If you’re interested in other job seeker or employer services or programs, please reach out to one of our 14 American Job Centers throughout the Upper Peninsula.