Insights

Professional development is one of the major perks and benefits that today’s young employees are looking for when searching for a job. In fact, Gen Z employees value professional development opportunities even more than other factors like compensation and company prestige, making learning & development programs an essential component to attracting and retaining Gen Z talent. But with so many types of programs to choose from, where do you begin? We recommend implementing a variety of professional development programs that combine formal and informal learning, as well as options that can be completed on the employees’ own time or as part of the regular workday. Take your professional development programs to the next level with these six suggestions, tailored to the needs of Gen Z.

Summer may be coming to an end, but peak campus recruitment season for most companies is just beginning. There is a lot of advice out there about how to recruit new employees on college campuses, including career fairs, coffee chats, and student referrals. But what about some fresh ideas for finding standout entry-level talent? Here are some new strategies you might want to incorporate into your fall recruitment plan for college students and recent graduates.

With the job market more competitive than ever, many companies are working extra hard to recruit the most talented candidates for their entry-level positions. While much of this has to do with campus recruiting strategies and creating a positive candidate experience, companies with a certain slate of perks and benefits have the added advantage of attracting top Gen Z talent.

Regardless of a candidate’s experience level, the interview is an important part of the hiring process. But when hiring entry-level candidates with little to no professional experience, the interview becomes a driving factor in determining if a candidate is right for the job, especially if it’s a non-technical position. While many candidates will have internship experience, an academic track record, and extracurricular involvement at their college or university, the lack of full-time experience makes it tricky to use the standard slate of interview questions. Instead of relying on questions that probe a candidate’s work experience to predict how they will perform in a role, the interviewer has to get creative with questions to assess a candidate’s motivations, communication skills, approach to problem-solving, and potential.

According to a LinkedIn Emerging Jobs Report, Sales Development Representatives are among the top 10 fastest growing jobs in the U.S., while an Enterprise Account Executive ranks as the second most recruited job on LinkedIn. It’s clear the demand for sales talent is high, starting at the entry-level. So where are recruiters having the most success finding promising sales talent?

Which colleges and universities produce the most in-demand candidates? According to data from the 2018-2019 hiring season, candidates from Ivy Leagues and elite institutions (public and private) remain the most popular with university recruiters on our platform.

At which university can you find the most in-demand entry-level analysts? According to data from our platform, the University of Pennsylvania has secured the No. 1 spot for producing top candidates for entry-level analyst positions. The finding comes from analyzing the interactions between university recruiters and students that use our platform.

Where can you find top entry-level software engineers and software developers? Try Pittsburgh.

Despite the growing prevalence of campus recruiting technology and innovative campus events, career fairs are not going away any time soon. For employers that hire large numbers of entry-level employees, careers fairs can be a great way to meet and engage with hundreds of potential candidates in the span of just a few hours. But with travel, accommodations, and physical materials, committing to career fairs at a dozen campuses can be costly and time-intensive. That means it’s essential to make the most of your time at campus career fairs, from preparing high-impact handouts to investing in efficient processes. To maximize the value of a career fair and stand out to talented candidates, check out these best practices before heading to campus.