Winter Career Fair Highlights Job Opportunities

February 7, 2024

Today, some students will begin the journey in understanding how to present themselves to prospective employers. And, they’ll discover where education and opportunity meet.

Among our proudest accomplishments is that Oakland University graduates are the talent pipeline of the region, and the Michigan economy.

Our graduates are not only excellent employees, they are dedicated to playing a prominent role in creating a thriving business environment for our regional business, and they are dedicated to engaging in our communities to improve the overall quality of life for people throughout the region. 

Oakland’s Career and Life Design Center reports 72% of graduating seniors are employed within a year and 98% of those students work in Michigan. Furthermore, 86% of seniors have at least one pain internship, and, according to The Detroit News, Oakland is the leading “brain gain” public university in the state.

At Oakland University, we see ourselves as a university on the move. A university expanding its reach and influence throughout the region.

In fact, Oakland (189) ranks the highest among its peer institutions in Michigan in the category of best colleges in America, according to The Wall Street Journal survey, and the assessment also rated Oakland is ranked as the “best value for investment” among our peer institutions

Because of partnerships with many of the employers who are here today, we realize the strategic importance of internships to our students, and to prospective employers. Internships provide a practical and predictive measure of work suitability and performance.

Currently, Oakland is developing a strategy to be the leading university for internships where students have a range of experiential learning and internships opportunities to get “real world” experience that translates a college degree into a successful career.

This is just one of the many ways we provide a specific “rate of return” on a college-degree investment. Another way Oakland is responsive to our employers is working closely with our students in their career planning.

We are proud that we are a trailblazer in using a leading-edge designing thinking methods to support students as they create a “well designed life.” The method is based on a strategy of problem-solving techniques, foster curiosity. The education begins with freshman, and considers through their senior year.

We are providing affordable and accessible education where 19% of undergraduates and 43% of incoming class have their tuition full overed, and 74% of students with family incomes under $70K will have tuition covered fully by the Golden Guarantee.

And we work closely with students to make sure they leave Oakland with a degree and minimal debt. In fact, 56% of OU’s new undergraduate students leave with no student debt.

When we look around, we see there are trends reshaping higher education, the economy and the fundamental ways companies are conducting business. Five years ago, for instance, who would’ve guessed the impact of virtual meetings and working-from-home, and, of course, the growing influence of artificial intelligence.

Yet amid the pervasive changes remaking our work world and culture, there is a constant: Employers are looking for excellent employees who know how to learn, and can adapt to the ever-changing circumstances in the business world.

We know you will find those treasured employees here at Oakland University.