“We need to remember across generations that there is as much to learn as there is to teach.” – Gloria Steinem
The holidays are over. Smart human resource professionals now plan for spring college recruitment activities. Hiring managers seek recent and future grads who are the best and brightest students.
Recruiters week them because they are eager to learn, hard-working, and equipped with the most up-to-date information in their field. Top recruiters know which first steps to take to find top talent ahead of competitors.
Where to Find Recruits
The most popular approaches to find college recruits are through job fairs and college campuses. Each method, however, has its challenges, indicating the need for a coordinated strategy and game before you hit the ground running. Get to know what students want and tailor your marketing strategy toward that goal.
Job Fairs
A place to find great recruits is at job fairs. Meeting outside of formal office settings can give you a glimpse of an applicant’s real personality. Your first challenge is getting students to your display table.
- Make your table and display enticing and engaging
- Stand out ahead of your competitors
- Have cool giveaways; students love free stuff
- Research each generation before any activity
College Campus Recruiting
College campus recruiting entails engaging students at college and university campuses to fill entry-level positions. Although this method can be successful, it also has its challenges.
Competition is fierce. Over 74 percent of employers plan to hire recent grads. Hiring grads lessens dependence on the already overcrowded job market. A survey of over 15,000 Millennials and upcoming graduates were asked the following questions:
- Who do you want to work for?
Responses included some of the well-known giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and other elites.
Smaller companies that lack recognizable branding may have a difficult time recruiting directly from college campuses, but a steady cultivation period can bring success.
- What top three things do you look for when considering employers?
The first three responses included: People and culture fit, career potential, and work/life balance. Unlike prior generations, new grads care less about compensation.
- How do you hear about companies that are hiring?
Friends ranked first, followed by job boards and on-campus recruiters. These answers have prompted companies to keep their focus on campus hiring strategies.
If friends are the number one way that students learn about companies, then use tools that resonate with the group to cultivate on-campus relationships with students. Of course, social media is a winner, but be sure to tell your company story in a way that connects with each generation, using language that makes sense.
The Connection
Currently, Millennials and Gen Z are among the most recent graduates. Connecting with these workforce generations is a tremendous asset. In fact, it’s a crucial first step as you set out to find the best of the best for your company.
Time Magazine interviewed MTV, who has been conducting extensive research into generational demographics and discovering that Gen Z (labeled The Founders by MTV) has an entirely different perspective on just about everything. Although this generation is not yet fully defined, it’s wise to learn all that you can about this group and alter your recruitment strategy to fit.
Although hiring managers utilize a variety of methods to recruit new graduates, job fairs and college campus programs are the most popular. Even though the larger companies are more recognizable than small to mid-sized companies, if you begin now to create a viable well-thought-out strategy, knowing that the process takes time, you will be on your way to making tracks in this sector of recruiting.
About Lingo Staffing
Lingo is a full-service staffing firm dedicated to providing top quality services to its clients and its candidate pool. With extensive knowledge and experience in light industrial, administrative, and professional employment, Lingo encompasses the capabilities and resources necessary to help you get ahead.
Meet our experts at an office near you: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, and Georgia. Lingo, the language of On Demand solutions. Contact us today.