College recruitment fairs offer employers and students the perfect opportunity to interact and explore opportunities for working together. When included in the hiring process, they become stepping stones to success, for students and recruiters alike. However, student recruitment events can also be very competitive and stressful environments for the latter.
When it comes to student recruitment, you need to be able to think ahead to attract and keep the attention of potential candidates. You need to evaluate them quickly and efficiently to see if they will be a good fit. Screening candidates and marketing your employer brand at the same time can be a challenge, but an effective campus placement strategy can help.
Be Clear About Your Campus Recruiting Needs
Spotting great potential is often intuitive, especially for experienced recruiters, but a campus recruitment strategy with a clear set of parameters is equally helpful. At campus recruiting fairs, list exactly what positions you’re hiring for and what you’re looking for in interns, part-time employees or entry-level workers.
Use an Applicant Tracking System> with smart filters for student recruitment and classify students according to these factors, quickly and efficiently
Use Social Media Wisely
Include Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter in your hiring process to promote upcoming career fairs you will be attending, and share posts about your company’s mission, goals and work culture. Reach people where they hang out, to attract better talent and spread the word quickly.
This gives students an insight into your brand, but be careful not to overdo it or “stalk” potential recruits!
Mobilize Your Careers Page
Today’s tech-savvy students want to work with companies that are up-to-date with modern technology. Most of them also conduct job searches through mobiles and handheld tablet devices before attending student recruitment fairs. If you haven’t already done so, make sure that your company’s career site is mobile-optimized for student recruitment.
Ensure that your campus recruitment strategy is integrated with mobile recruiting software that simplifies online applications and allows you to track hiring progress on the go.
Start Building a Rapport
Students at a campus recruiting fair might be nervous or shy, so introduce yourself and initiate conversations. They’ve already learned about the importance of internships for their careers, so the groundwork for student recruitment is in place!
To get them talking, ask about their fields of interest and future plans, or introduce your company at student recruitment fairs and ask if they’d like to learn more about it.
Represent the Company Brand
Your employer brand should be reflected in every aspect of your campus recruiting booth, creating a strong visual image for students to associate with you. Use the company logo and colors throughout the assigned space, as well as any stationery and items you’re giving away during student recruitment events.
To create a positive impression and ensure the focus remains on you, keep the campus recruiting booth neat and clutter-free.
Convey Your Workplace Culture
Be genuine in the way you dress and act, at a campus recruiting event. While formal attire is generally the rule followed by most student recruitment professionals, it can create a false image if the workplace dress code is more casual.
Wear the kind of clothes and attitude that you sport at work – or business casuals to student recruitment events and you’ll have more luck finding people who are a good cultural fit.
Follow Up with Each Student
It doesn’t take much time or energy to follow up with potential applicants, especially when you use resume sorting software with automated email features. After you shortlist qualified candidates, follow up with every person who showed an interest at your campus recruiting fair.
Even if some students didn’t make the cut during your campus recruiting event, sending them a proactive message creates a positive and professional image for your employer brand.
Every student recruitment event has something to offer, no matter how big or small. The best recruiters have a keen eye for talent and understand their company’s strengths, but that’s not all. They also use innovative tools to streamline the process of hiring candidates at a college recruitment fair, and so should you.
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