Job hunters need more than luck when sending résumés to faceless websites.

Why be invisible? Stack the career odds in your favor by meeting directly with company recruiters at the Fall Career Fair, noon-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the University of Michigan-Flint Recreation Center.

The fair is one of the free perks available to UM-Flint alumni. Both alumni and students are encouraged to attend the fair, where recruiters from more than 70 companies and organizations will be on site to discuss career opportunities, accept résumés, and share information that candidates won’t always find online. Grad school representatives will also be available.

Aimi Moss, Director of UM-Flint’s Academic Advising and Career Center (AACC), says recruiter participation is at record levels this fall, an increase of 33 percent over the 2011 Fall Career Fair.

Not only will there be plenty of companies ready to hire, but recruiters are seeking alumni and students with a variety of degrees and majors. Moss said she largely attributes the increase to targeted employer recruiting and an “unwavering commitment” to providing an abundance of opportunities for both students and alumni.

Alumni and students can RSVP for a Guided Tour of the Career Fair, which includes acclimation to the process of networking and self-presentation, as well as advice from an employer at a corporate sponsor table. Tours are appropriate for both alumni and students, said Moss.

Never attended a Career Fair? No worries ─ AACC offers plenty of help. Participants can check out companies and types of candidates recruiters are seeking beforehand.  Alumni and students can have résumés reviewed by their career counselor through Career Connection and practice interview skills through Interview Stream, a tool available in the Academic Advising and Career Center office (University Pavilion 285) or online via webcam. Participants choose whether to have the session critiqued or view the interview without others seeing it.

The services offered by the Academic Advising and Career Center provide practice year-round. Moss said alumni sometimes are unaware of the valuable job resources available to them.

“We have over 5,000 employers in the system and on any given day, 300 to 500 open jobs posted,” said Moss.

“Alumni have found these services very helpful. Many times Career Centers charge alumni for the same services ─ we don’t.”

2012 UM-Flint Fall Career Fair

• Who: UM-Flint alumni and students
• What: Share your résumé and chat with recruiters from more than 70 companies and organizations
• When: Noon – 3 p.m. Wed., Oct. 17
• Where: UM-Flint Rec Center
• Why: Free alumni perk, rare opportunity to get info and distinguish yourself for career/grad school opportunities
• Tips:
  • Research companies beforehand
  •  RSVP for Guided Tour if necessary
  • Prepare with Career Center workshops/resources
  • Dress professionally
  • Bring enough résumé copies
  • Be proactive and outgoing
  • Collect business cards
  • Ask AACC Advisors about questions/concerns at check-in table

More career help

• For more resources, including AACC Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest links, go to http://www.umflint.edu/advising/alumni.htm.
• Log into Career Connection with your UM-Flint e-mail and password to see job postings, upload a résumé, or access Interview Stream.
• Questions? Contact the Academic Advising and Career Center office at (810) 762-3085 or  advising@umflint.edu.