Every spring, college seniors across the nation prepare for graduation and the unnerving process of finding a job in the “real world.” Long viewed as a time of both hope and fear, today’s graduates would be lucky to experience anything other than sheer panic. With unemployment at 8.1% and a 21.6% reduction in college hiring, finding a job is no longer an attainable goal for many graduates. The students who began their studies with the hope of landing a six-figure job on Wall Street need to think of a new plan and the public service seems to offer some promising options.
The Boston Globe recently published an article reporting that 14% of Harvard grads have applied for Teach for America, a non-profit organization that trains graduates to work in low-income urban and rural public schools. In 2009, Teach for America has increased the number of applicants from 17,348 to 35,178. Pretty impressive…what’s more impressive is that most of these applicants come from top universities including Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth.
As an “entitled” Generation Y continues to demand more from employers, companies often struggle with one of recruiting’s fundamentals…college recruiting. With a large number of non-profits around the country, why is Teach for America so successful at recruiting the top college graduates?
• Non-monetary incentives. As companies look to tighten their spending, monetary incentives and sign-on bonuses are becoming fewer and far between. With an annual salary of $25,000-$44,000, Teach for America is able to attract quality applicants through health benefits, retirement plans, paid-time off and close partnerships with graduate schools and employers.
• Leadership training. Gen Yers are looking to become part of something bigger than themselves. They want a sense of social responsibility. Teach for America not only seeks applicants with strong leadership skills but also develops these skills for their employees.
• Interactivity. An open and transparent work environment is paramount for any organization looking to attract younger generations. Applicant finalists at Teach for America participate in a full-day interview that includes sample teaching plans and group discussions.
• Career Site Branding. Using Taleo’s ATS, Teach for America is able to maintain their company branding on their career site. This branding includes messaging about the organization, available positions and programs for alumni.
The recession will end and when it does organizations will begin a hiring surge. College recruiting will be a critical piece of the puzzle. As many top graduates begin to look into public service for career opportunities, employers should think about how companies such as Teach for America have attracted top talent and also the possibility of partnering with these non-profit organizations. We will be publishing a research bulletin on college recruiting in the next few weeks and would love to hear your thoughts…