Hey, summer! We see you sneaking in with rising temperatures and endless repetition of “Pomp and Circumstance.” But this is good news for recent college graduates and the companies looking to hire them. Nearly half of college grads won’t have a job locked down by the start of summer, so they’ll be ready to find a long-term home for their talent. Wouldn’t it be great if they found that home at your company?

Make it easy for talented college grads to find your company through:

• Brand recognition. Grabbing the best of these budding professionals means planting your brand’s seed early. That way, college grads will be thinking of you when it’s time to look for a job. And while you may not have time to launch a full effort at this year’s graduating class, you can start by setting up a booth at local career fairs. Send key professionals from departments such as Marketing, Finance, and Human Resources to chat with students. You can even offer on-the-spot job interviews. Your staff can also volunteer to speak on college campuses or sponsor campus events, so be sure to reach out to the appropriate program coordinators.
• Meaningful internship opportunities. Internships are the win-win investment of the recruitment world—just look at the successful internship programs at Google, Dell, and Facebook. Motivated workers earn valuable experience while your company gets a head start grooming future employees. Note the key word here is a meaningful internship opportunity, complete with relevant experience, mentoring, and pay, to show that your company values every employee. Stuffing your interns in the archive room won’t do your brand any favors, and it certainly won’t encourage them to pursue a permanent position with you.
• Competitive benefits. Recent college grads want instant gratification, flexibility, and professional significance; at 22, they aren’t thinking on that fab pension and 401k. Tout the benefits that appeal most to young workers: flex schedules, telecommuting options, work-life balance, onsite creature comforts, and employee recognition programs. What can you easily implement to become more attractive to a young workforce?
• Social media. Social recruiting is an effective and affordable tool to engage recent grads. While Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn all remain popular outreach avenues, clever companies also recruit via Pinterest and Instagram and other nonconventional platforms. Not every social media site will fit your company’s goals, but think how you might adapt these alternative platforms to fit your recruitment strategy.

Now you’re ready to invite top-notch grads to make a home at your company this fall! But recruiting college graduates is just one part of a comprehensive recruitment plan. That’s where we come in. With our recruitment and retention guidance, YES! Your Human Resources Solution can help optimize your search for today’s hottest talent, and evaluate ways to retain your top performers. Let’s chat in a free consultation!