From classroom learning to career opportunities, Michigan Technological University's Career Fair showcases how connections help Huskies build successful futures.
At Michigan Tech, Career Fair is about more than resumes and job postings. It's where students build relationships, explore new possibilities and discover opportunities that can shape the course of their careers.
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, those opportunities will converge in the Student Development Complex as Michigan Tech hosts its Fall 2026 Career Fair. Nearly 400 organizations, representing more than 415 booths and 1,000-plus recruiters, are expected to attend. Many are longtime industry partners, while others are Michigan Tech alumni returning to help the next generation of Huskies launch their careers.
Demand for Michigan Tech talent remains strong across disciplines. More than 70% of registered employers are recruiting civil, environmental and geospatial engineering students, while more than 60% are seeking mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering and applied computing majors. More than half are recruiting students from the College of Business, nearly 57% are hiring for positions in Michigan, and approximately one-quarter are recruiting at Michigan Tech for the first time.
"Career Fair is a powerful reflection of the value our students bring to the workforce," said Cody Kangas, executive director of Career Services. "The high number of employers and recruiters coming to campus demonstrates continued confidence in a Michigan Tech education and in the career readiness of our students. These organizations are looking for problem-solvers, innovators and leaders, and they know they'll find those qualities in Huskies."
Turning Conversations Into Careers
For senior student Veronica Frystak, a dual major in marketing and supply chain management, Career Fair became more than a place to hand out resumes. It became a place to build relationships and discover opportunities she never expected.
As a first-year student, Frystak quickly learned that, as a non-engineering major at a STEM-focused university, she needed a different strategy. Rather than gravitating toward the busiest booths, she focused on meaningful conversations and relationship-building. Those interactions helped her secure opportunities. She became the first Michigan Tech marketing student to intern with Milwaukee Tool.
More recently, Frystak landed an internship with Ford Racing, a role she said she never anticipated pursuing.
"I've learned that Career Fair isn't just about finding a job," said Frystak. "It's about learning how to talk about your experiences, build connections and stay open to opportunities you may not have considered. Every conversation can lead somewhere."
Building Career Confidence Across Campus
Frystak's experience reflects a broader philosophy at Michigan Tech: Career readiness is built through a combination of academic preparation, hands-on experience and meaningful engagement with industry.
"Career readiness doesn't begin when students start applying for jobs," said Andrew Storer, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. "It begins in the classroom, in laboratories, through project-based learning and through meaningful engagement with faculty and industry partners. Career Fair provides an important opportunity for students to connect those experiences to future careers and see how the skills they're developing at Michigan Tech translate into real-world impact."
That preparation extends beyond the week of Career Fair through a growing network of faculty and staff committed to helping students connect their academic experiences to professional goals.
Led by the University's Career Services office, Michigan Tech's Career Champions Network equips faculty and staff across campus with tools and resources to integrate career readiness into the student experience. Whether through classroom conversations, mentorship, experiential learning or career exploration activities, the network helps students recognize and communicate the value of the skills they are developing throughout their time at Michigan Tech.
"Our goal is for career readiness to be part of a student's everyday experience at Michigan Tech, rather than being seen as something that happens during a single event," said Liz Fujita, assistant director of academic and career integration. "Through the Career Champions Network, faculty and staff across campus are answering questions and helping students connect what they're learning in the classroom with the skills, experiences and opportunities that employers are seeking. Recruiting events are important milestones, but the network is built on a foundation of career conversations, mentorship and guidance that happens throughout the year."
For students like Frystak, that support can make all the difference.
"Career Services offers such a huge advantage for students who are looking for internships and careers," she said. "I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't used those resources."
As hundreds of employers and more than a thousand recruiters prepare to converge on campus, Career Fair continues to serve as a powerful reminder that the pathways from classroom to career are built through preparation, partnership and connection.
Fall 2026 Career Fair takes place Tuesday, Sept. 29, from noon to 5 p.m. in Michigan Tech's Student Development Complex.
Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, computing, forestry, business, health professions, robotics, psychology, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
