Employer Showcases connect students with opportunities

March 25, 2025 (Volume 48, Number 14)
Article by Annie Pettit

woman seated at table in hallway with intech banner chatting with a student who is standing with hands in pockets

The Career Center hosts about 50 Employer Showcases on campus each semester. These events provide opportunities for students to network with employers in an informal way.

Photo Credit: Macayla Cramer

Every semester, the Career Center brings about 50 West Michigan businesses to campus through Employer Showcase events.

Employers set up booths at various campus locations and start conversations with students about employment opportunities. Cindy Brown, employer development manager, said the purpose of these events is to connect students to potential employers in a low-stakes, informal setting.

“We wanted to come up with a way for students and employers to get together on a regular basis,” Brown said. “We thought, what better way than to designate one employer a week and give them and students an opportunity to speak together.”

Employer Showcase events began with a focus on business and engineering students, but have grown to include students studying computer science, health care and, most recently, the sciences.

Students who meet employers at events can start to build relationships with businesses even before applying for internships or jobs.

“The Employer Showcase can spark ideas about employment and internship options for students," said Megan Riksen, Career Center assistant director for marketing and communications. "It makes networking feel less scary.”

The events have proven beneficial for West Michigan employers as well. For Ally Garlitch, talent specialist at Consumers Credit Union, meeting students on campus is an essential step in the hiring process.

“Students who go the extra mile and attend opportunities like the Employer Showcase stand out to employers like Consumers Credit Union,” she said. “We tend to gravitate towards students whom we meet while out at career fairs and showcases.”

Students interested in learning more about upcoming Employer Showcase events can visit the GVSU Career Center website.