The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed how companies recruit new talent. A combination of in-person and online strategies—-also known as hybrid recruiting—could be the norm in the future. This means for students who are seeking jobs and internships during the upcoming recruitment season, the most important thing is to be flexible. Whether you’re an incoming freshman seeking an internship or a graduating senior looking for a full-time job, here are a few tips to help you prepare for hybrid recruitment.
Attend both virtual and in-person events
When campuses switched to remote learning during COVID-19, many recruiters also had to transition their planned in-person events to a virtual environment. While some companies are gradually incorporating more in-person events, virtual events are still expected to be a critical component of the Fall 2021 recruitment season. There are many types of recruitment events that can be held either in-person or virtually, including career fairs, info sessions, coffee chats, and networking events.
As in-person events start returning, it’s important not to limit yourself to only attending one type of event or the other. Both in-person and virtual events have advantages that can ultimately aid in your job search. The benefits of in-person events include being able to make face-to-face connections with recruiters and meet with multiple employers in one place. With virtual events, however, you are no longer limited by location and may have more opportunities to meet with employers who don’t specifically recruit at your college or university. Some virtual events may be even more targeted by industry or focused on diversity initiatives.
Start by contacting your career center to see which in-person and virtual events will be hosted through your college. Then visit the career pages of your target companies to see if there are other virtual recruitment events you can attend. You can also check out our tips on how to stand out at virtual recruitment events.
Be prepared to answer—and ask!—questions about both in-person and remote work
Some companies have already asked employees to return to the office, or have shared a timeline for going back. Other major employers, including Twitter, Salesforce, and Spotify, have announced new policies that will enable employees to work-from-home permanently or take a hybrid approach that includes remote and on-site work.
As employers navigate what a post-pandemic future will look like, you may be asked questions about your work styles both in person and remotely. Get ready to highlight experiences in which you succeeded in a virtual work environment, as well as in person. If you spent the summer doing a virtual internship, you can draw upon that experience in your resume, interview, and application materials. If you have a job on campus or previously worked in an office setting, be prepared to talk about that, too.
Keep in mind that interviews and recruitment events are a two-way street. You can also ask questions about prospective employers’ plans for on-site, remote, and hybrid work. Consider asking about onboarding processes, professional development opportunities, and expectations around how often (if at all) employees are expected to work from an office.
Polish your online profiles on recruitment-related sites
Recruitment isn’t just about shaking hands with recruiters at career fairs or submitting job applications to an online portal. Recruiters also use job profile sites for sourcing talent, including for entry-level jobs and internships. That’s why it’s important to keep your profile on sites like LinkedIn and RippleMatch up-to-date.
Your candidate profile on RippleMatch includes information about your major, career interests, and location preferences, making it easy to automatically match you with relevant roles and employers. From there, recruiters can invite you to in-person or virtual recruitment events, or encourage you to apply for a position they’re looking to fill. ‘
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile with relevant experiences and keywords can get you on recruiters’ radar, too. Set your profile settings to indicate that you are open to work and list some of the types of positions that interest you. You can also utilize LinkedIn to make connections with recruiters, alumni from your college, or professionals who currently work at your target companies, which builds your network for current and future opportunities.
Go the extra mile to learn about the company’s culture
With hybrid recruiting, you may not have the opportunity for a site visit that gives you additional insight into the company’s culture. If a company is still (or permanently) staying remote, it can also be hard to get a sense of how well employees build camaraderie without a physical location.
To get an idea of what working at the company might look like, check the company’s social media pages, Glassdoor reviews, and careers web page. What are current and past employees saying? Are there any company-wide events that employees are participating in? How are new hires welcomed into the company?
During recruitment events and interviews, you can also ask recruiters and current employees questions about what matters to you in terms of company culture. Some ideas may include diversity and inclusion initiatives, mentorship opportunities, and team-building activities.
Hybrid recruiting is still a new concept for many students, but that doesn’t mean it has to be intimidating. Being adaptable, curious, and well-prepared can make the upcoming recruitment process more seamless and ultimately help you find the role that’s right for you.