Regional colleges and universities are the best sources for new talent

The area’s abundant academic institutions are plugged into the region’s business culture — from building relationships with campus career centers to attending job fairs and networking events.

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Foolproof strategies to engage students and recent graduates

  • Post your job openings on multiple job boards. Each institution of higher education has a job board in addition to the local job portal hosted by Ann Arbor SPARK and the statewide labor exchange, the Pure Michigan Talent Connect, supported by Michigan Works! Southeast. 
  • Attend career and talent-focused events. Each institution has a career event calendar, and in many cases, specific departments will host career events for students and recent graduates related to their academic area of focus. Annual events like a2tech360, Tech Homecoming, and MiCareerQuest Southeast are also great opportunities to connect with talent.   
  • Host a student intern. Connect with the career services department at each institution to learn more about their intern programs and also connect with the statewide Michigan STEM Forward program, supported by MEDC. 
  • Conduct open interviews on campus or host informational sessions. Career services offices or academic department leads can help coordinate these on campus activities as a way for you to engage directly with talent. Michigan Works! Southeast can help broaden your talent reach by scheduling you for an Employer of the Day event at any of their local service centers.

Build Your Brand on Campus

  • Make the most of your Handshake profile by including a complete company description, detailed job postings, profile pictures, and social media handles. Be sure to highlight awards; company culture; commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; community service focus; perks; and anything else that makes your organization attractive to young professionals.
  • Keep students engaged during your recruiting process through timely communication and adhering to your deadlines. 
  • Leverage your organization’s alumni from local higher education institutions in all your efforts. When recruiting diverse talent, consider utilizing your employee resource groups to showcase to students the support they will have within your organization. 
  • Consider offering students hands-on experiences such as job shadowing, site visits, industry boot camps, case competitions, etc. Experiential learning opportunities provide students with a view into your organization and your work while offering employers the chance to engage more fully with students, demonstrate your organization’s culture and values, and differentiate your organization from others in your space.
  • Hire interns to build a pipeline for future recruitment and engage these students as your ambassadors when they return to campus.
  • Explore student organizations on campus and connect with relevant groups to share your industry expertise.

Source: University Career Center at the University of Michigan

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