Insights

When the coronavirus pandemic upended daily life in 2020, the way we work changed almost overnight. Many employees began working from home, originally expecting to return to the office within a few weeks. As it became clear that remote work would continue indefinitely, companies were forced to make decisions about their summer internships. According to NACE, the National Association of Colleges and Employers, more than 1 in 5 companies cancelled their internships entirely in 2020. Of those who held summer internships, 70% conducted them virtually or in an otherwise adapted setting. We found very similar results in a recent survey of campus recruiters.

In 2020, many companies were forced to host their internships virtually, with little time to plan. The ability of university teams to adapt in-person programs in as little as a few months or even weeks was impressive, but many lessons were learned from the hastily-formed programs.

This year’s graduates face challenges they never could have imagined when they entered college. The unexpected emergence of COVID-19 led to decreased employment rates, changes to work environments (largely a shift to remote work), and new hiring practices. Now, with the end of the school year just around the corner, juniors and seniors continue to face an uncertain academic and professional future.

Internships are about so much more than work. They’re also an invaluable opportunity for potential future candidates to get a feel for company culture, colleagues and build a sense of community with their fellow interns. But shifting to a remote internship can make building those same relationships more difficult. In fact, in a RippleMatch survey of over 1,000 college juniors and seniors from 235 schools, only 44% of students rated community-building with peers as a positive experience during their remote internship.

Tech-savvy, independent, and impact-focused are a few of the descriptors that come to mind when thinking about Gen Z. But changes brought about by COVID-19 means there are many new things for managers and campus recruiters to learn about this generation. One major facet is understanding how Gen Z communicates in the workplace -- especially a remote one.

With all the time and money invested in recruiting talented early career candidates, getting a signed offer letter is only half the battle. Retention is important too – especially to ensure that new graduates develop into future leaders at the company. So how can you effectively manage young employees and help them develop as rising professionals?

Professional development matters, especially for Gen Z. In RippleMatch research, we’ve found that professional development ranks in the top of Gen Z’s list of priorities when searching for a job, and is one of the most influential factor when this generation considers accepting an internship or job offer. However, you don’t need to wait until you’ve already hired a candidate in order to get started on their professional development. One way to stand out to Gen Z talent while recruiting is to “show, don’t tell” your dedication to professional development. This approach is especially valuable in a time when many students lack professional resources due to remote learning, canceled internships, and limited in-person networking events. So instead of only showing up to virtual career fairs, incorporate these ideas to help potential candidates develop professionally while also expanding your employer brand.

Making your workplace accessible and friendly to potential and current employees with disabilities is not just the right thing to do—it will make your business stronger. A study conducted by Accenture, the American Association of People with Disabilities, and Disability: In found that organizations prioritizing accessibility had 28 percent higher revenue, and people with disabilities represent the third-largest market segment in the United States. By bringing in employees with different abilities and backgrounds, your business will make better products, understand your customers more, and will foster an open, strong community.

COVID-19 is rewriting the rules of entry-level recruitment. With many universities sticking with remote or distance learning this fall and spring, “campus recruiting” is less about meeting students on campus and more about hiring candidates over Zoom. One of the biggest challenges is that it can be hard to create an inclusive hiring process when students have varying access to resources. These differences can be more stark than before as more students are living and learning from home.