Return North is more than just a career fair, it’s a year-round initiative working to connect future (or returning) Yoopers with meaning career opportunities in the UP.
We feel everyone should have the opportunity to build their career in the most beautiful part of Michigan (yes, we’re a little biased).
As part of Return North’s programing, an online virtual career fair is held each November. For nine consecutive years, this event has connected talented individuals with UP-based employers looking to enhance their workforce.
This past November, over 100 job seekers nearly 25 companies participate in the event. One of these job seekers was Paige Ludwig, a Grand Rapids native who wanted nothing more than to have the opportunity to build her career in the UP. “I started coming to the Upper Peninsula when I was just a baby. It grew on me, a lot. I didn’t want to go back down towards the cities [to find a job].” Ludwig took her first step toward building a life in the UP by enrolling at Michigan Tech. After interning in the Keweenaw and spending the summers in the region, she knew wanted more than a temporary position. Ludwig was looking for something more permanent, a real way to establish roots in the UP.
As graduation was fast approaching, she knew the time had come to being the daunting process of applying to jobs, in search of a full-time position. “I was taking everything that I could find,” she said, describing the exhausting process of applying through platforms like Handshake and Indeed. Over the course of several months, she submitted nearly 50 applications, and received only a handful of responses.
Discovering Return North
One day, while scrolling on Instagram, Paige saw a posting for the Return North virtual career fair. What stood out to her was that it was specifically focused on opportunities in the Upper Peninsula, exactly where she hoped to stay.
During the career fair, a company representative reached out after reviewing her profile. Through the fair, they were able to connect and begin a conversation.
A couple of short weeks after their initial conversation, Paige was invited to their facilities for an in-person interview, and ultimately received a full time offer. Today, Paige works as an electrical engineer, doing work that challenges her and allows her to expand her skillset, right here in the UP.
Building a Career in the UP
Securing a job through Return North meant more than just a way to pay the bills. “It kept me in an area that I love,” she shared.
This story is exactly why Return North exists; it’s a testament to what Return North’s mission to provide the workforce with career-building opportunities in the Upper Peninsula. This initiative is about more than filling open positions, it’s about retaining talent and helping individuals with roots, connections, or a love for the Upper Peninsula build long-term, career-defining opportunities here.
As for Ludwig, advice to future Return North participants is simple: “Just put yourself out there. If there’s a company that looks interesting…take a chance.”
When talented professionals choose to stay, or return, our entire region grows stronger.