College graduates can offer new energy and a fresh skill set to your marketing team. Here are tips on how to find and recruit a young, talented professional.
1. Build relationships with faculty.
Email faculty to introduce your company and convey your interest in finding talent. Ask about presenting to student groups and attending campus networking events.
Relationships with faculty will help your hotel recruit the “star” graduates.
2. Create a paid internship program.
You also can gauge skills and “fit” before making a full-time hire.
The best communications students typically have several internship offers. Compensation attracts top talent.
3. Provide a detailed job description that conveys a career path, not just a job.
Consult with your marketing team to develop a detailed job description and ensure the team agrees on the role of the new hire.
College graduates are interested in a career path beyond the entry job. Convey opportunities for growth and your company’s culture.
4. Assess the candidate’s personal brand and social media expertise.
Look for a credible online presence.
Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of how to effectively use social media and mobile technology in a marketing program.
5. Test critical thinking skills.
Create an exercise based on a current marketing challenge for your hotel to evaluate the candidate’s ability to develop strategic recommendations.
Ask the candidate to present recommendations to gauge presentation skills and confidence.
6. Hire graduates with strong interpersonal skills and an energetic attitude. Good communications skills are crucial.
Hospitality knowledge can be easier taught than communications skills and attitude.Look for successful experiences as leaders and team players, as well as documentation of delivering results.
Recent graduates have limited interviewing experience. Expect nervousness. Assess if the candidate clearly articulates experiences and conveys enthusiasm.
At Softscribe, although we hire only seasoned professionals, attitude is all. We put care in every detail, and stay fresh with ongoing training.
What about you? Have you recently hired a college grad? How did it pan out?
