Build your talent pipeline and keep it flowing:
- Create recruiting partnerships with directors of career centers and professors in industry-related fields. Treat them as you would any important client. Invite them to your site. Take them to lunch. Offer to teach a class or provide students with educational materials. Make them your liaisons with the best talent. They're in the best position to recommend candidates to your organization.
- Write personal letters to students whose resumes are promising. Customize your message and follow up with one-on-one meetings. Star Gen Yers prefer a personalized approach and are impressed by organizations that make the extra effort.
- Offer students paid internships, both part time during the school year and full time during breaks or summer vacation. Get them up to speed and contributing immediately, doing work that has substance and responsibility. Talented Gen Yers resent busy work.
- Gear your website to recruiting talent. Almost 100% of college students have access to the Internet. How easily can they find your "Career Opportunities" information? How quickly can they send an initial job application? How fast do you respond to their submission? If your answer is not "immediately," make it so. Gen Yers tell us they're frustrated by the unresponsiveness of many organizations.