How do companies stand out at recruitment forums?
Published on 2024.09.16
Recruitment forums are key moments for companies seeking to hire young talent from business schools. In an environment where competition is fierce, standing out is essential to capturing the attention of the best candidates. To achieve this, companies must adopt a strategic approach, maximizing their visibility and creating meaningful interactions with students
Preparation before the forums
Success at a recruitment forum is built well before the actual event. Thorough preparation is essential to ensure an effective and strategic presence.
Identifying recruitment needs
Before even participating in a forum, it is essential for a company to clearly define its recruitment needs. What specific skills are they looking for? What positions are open? What are the opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, or first-time jobs? A precise understanding of these aspects will help target the right candidates and create a coherent message.
In addition, it is important to be prepared to communicate in a convincing and authentic way about the career opportunities offered. Today's students, particularly those at emlyon, have expectations and desires unique to Generation Z. They are very attentive to professional development opportunities, company culture, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Engaging internal teams
A successful presence at a forum relies on the involvement of employees, both junior and senior. Young recruits can share their recent experience of the recruitment process, while managers can offer a more strategic vision of the company and career prospects.
The presence of alumni and graduates at recruitment booths is a major asset for companies, as they provide an authentic and credible account of their career paths. By sharing their personal experiences, alumni create a direct link between their former school and their company. Recent graduates not only understand the expectations and concerns of current students but also the specificities of their journey through school, the challenges they faced, and the transition to the professional world. They play a crucial role in facilitating understanding of the company's internal dynamics. They can explain how the skills and knowledge gained at school are applied in their daily work and how the company supports the continuous development of its employees.
Capturing students' attention and standing out
Leveraging the Career Center to gain visibility
The Career Center at emlyon business school is an essential tool for companies wishing to stand out at recruitment forum. By posting their job offers on the dedicated platform before the events, companies increase their visibility among students. This service not only allows them to reach a wide audience of qualified candidates but also to specifically target profiles that best match the company's needs.
Before participating in a recruitment event, it is wise to have a general understanding of the programs offered by the school in order to properly target the student profiles present at the events. Companies can also inquire in advance about internship start dates and durations to align their offers with student expectations. This information can be gathered from the Career Center teams or the school's website.
Companies can enhance their visibility by participating in various events throughout the year – in addition to general recruitment forum like the Careers Forum, they can engage in thematic events such as Job Dating and Lunch & Learn, which allow for more targeted exchanges. Student challenges also provide an ideal setting to interact with small groups, presenting them with real-life business cases, which fosters deeper and more engaging contact with potential candidates.
Furthermore, by working closely with the Career Center, companies can optimize their presence on campus during events by choosing strategic locations for their stands, ensuring maximum foot traffic.
Finally, the Career Center plays a crucial role in promoting the company to students, whether through targeted communications, presentation events, or strengthened partnerships.
Authentic and compassionate communication
To capture students' attention and spark their interest in the company, it is important to adopt authentic and compassionate communication. Today's students are particularly sensitive to the sincerity of speeches and the integrity of recruiters' practices. Rather than focusing solely on material benefits or career opportunities, it is crucial to present an accurate image of the company, sharing both its successes and challenges. This transparency helps build trust with students, who are more likely to engage with a company whose values resonate with their own.
Maximizing impact after the forum
Participating in a recruitment forum doesn't end when the event is over. The follow-up after the event is just as important to maximize the impact of the company's presence.
Responding to applications quickly
A quick response to applications submitted after the forum is essential to maintain candidates' interest. Companies should ensure they have a process in place to sort, evaluate, and respond to applications efficiently. This shows students that the company is serious and organized in its recruitment approach.
Additionally, regular follow-ups with interested candidates can include invitations to other company events or more in-depth interviews.
Nurturing relationships with schools
Maintaining an ongoing relationship with top schools is crucial to strengthening the company's presence on campus and within the student community. This can be achieved through regular participation in events or partnerships with the school or student associations.
Moreover, companies can consider getting involved in specific Career Center initiatives, such as roundtables or coaching workshops (e.g., CV clinics), to continue interacting with students throughout the year.
To stand out effectively at recruitment forums in business schools, companies must combine thorough preparation with a well-defined strategy. Collaborating with the Career Center or career teams at top schools ensures optimal visibility and precise selection of events to best meet recruitment needs. Post-forum follow-up is also crucial to turn these interactions into concrete recruitment opportunities. By combining these elements, a company can not only attract the best talent but also sustainably strengthen its appeal to the next generation of professionals.
Would you like to recruit emlyon students and increase your company's visibility?
The Career Center at emlyon helps companies build their recruitment & employer branding strategies for students and recent graduates through various programs:
- Recruitment events and employer branding
- Action learning projects and challenges with our students
- Custom action plan and roadmap implementation
Before online forum and during in-person forum, we organize conferences to highlight our companies' employer branding. These conferences aim to promote the company's brand around the professions offered to maximize the visibility of job offers during the event.
Thematic conferences promote a specific function within the company (for example, apprenticeships) or specific professions (such as digital marketing or data) to attract relevant talent.