Career Center News
GVSU Career Center Employer Visits Provide Valuable Industry Insight
December 12, 2022
By Madelynn Lutenski (GVSU Career Center Intern)
Every semester, the Grand Valley Career Center tours multiple West Michigan employer headquarters for what they call “Full-staff Employer Visits.”
On these tours, the Career Center staff get to witness in action the work the organization performs, the type of environment, and the culture. In addition, senior leaders and HR professionals have the opportunity to share what skills they are actively searching for and what their ideal candidate looks like.
“A lot of the skills that employers are requesting such as problem-solving, critical thinking, the desire to learn, and creativity are all skills that employers have been looking for, for over 30 years,” said Career Center Employer Development Manager, Cindy Brown. “When we get to have a conversation with employers and get to see them in action, we can see the types of skills they desire that fit into their work environment. We get to see what those skills actually mean to them and it puts the picture together for us.”
Understanding the needs of West Michigan employers is crucial to helping students succeed in finding a full-time job after graduation. Gaining valuable insight from employers is a vital part of the Career Center’s vision to bridge the gap between students and employers.
“The unique thing about these employer visits is that it's a two-way street,” said Brown. “Employers are able to ask us questions about what we are seeing from our students. With COVID-19 and the world of work changing, it's really important for us to get out there and see firsthand if what employers are saying matches what they're advertising. The most important takeaway is our ability to share what we learned with the GV community.”
The most recent full-staff employer visits have been to Koops Automation Systems, Tekton Inc., Comfort Research, and Mill Steel. In the upcoming Winter 2023 semester, the Career Center will be visiting human services employers.
Seeing the employer first-hand allows the Career Center advisors to build connections with the employers and report back to students with those details, creating networking opportunities.
“At GV, we frequently have employers table on campus. Have conversations with them. This is one of the coolest things that I’ve seen by being on this side of the process. We had an Employer Showcase where business, computer science, math, and engineering students got the opportunity to talk to employers in their fields,” said Brown.
Students can expect more employer tables to return in the Winter 2023 semester. The Employer Showcase offers students connections to employers in their fields without having the pressure of a job fair or interview. Students are welcome to stop by the employer’s table to gain more information and build their networking pool.
To further the job search process, students should research the job industry they are exploring in order to better align their expectations with industry standards.
Using career exploration tools, such as PathwayU, a free career assessment, will help students determine interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences. Career Guides by Major is another great resource for students to research and explore career options.
“Think openly. Dig deep, and figure out what type of culture you want. There are other values that we each hold so research what you want out of your career,” said Brown. “Come work with us at the Career Center and we can share employers with you but also, do your own research and find opportunities to interact with employers.”
Schedule an appointment with a career advisor today to learn more about our full-staff employer visits and how to become a more prepared candidate.