Building an Effective Campus Ambassador Program
Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2025 8:59 am
Campus ambassador programs are not only a hot topic right now; they are a differentiator on the college recruiting scene. To be successful, campus ambassador programs need a manager to oversee the effort, the right representatives on campus and a process that connects referrals to your recruiting efforts.
Follow these tips for a campus ambassador program that will start delivering results this semester.
1. Choose the right colleges and universities. Start by building a test pilot campus ambassador program with a few local schools to ensure you have a solid process in place before launching nationally. Pull data from your applicant tracking system (ATS) to understand where the majority of your campus hires came from in the past. Go back about five years to look for trends, and pinpoint your top schools.
2. Identify your target market. First decide what type of student, in terms of uganda phone number library education and extra-curricular activities, would be best for your company. Segment the student population based on these criteria, and not only should you target schools with these students, but become familiar with the programs and clubs where these students can be found.
3. Establish and maintain an on-campus presence. Most colleges welcome companies to post positions, attend career fairs and host campus interviews and information sessions. But to establish your on-campus brand, it’s important to go beyond these traditional methods (which is the extent of what most companies are doing). Try sponsoring student competitions and consider advertising opportunities in student newspapers, directories and other publications.
4. Utilize social marketing, like social networking and referrals. Referencing an article from ERE.net about college recruiting programs, “Corporate referral sources should include your firm’s newly hired students, your interns, your current recruiting targets, and your employees and their families. Among the campus community, you want to solicit referrals from grad assistants, student organization leaders, tutors, and if you have them, your firm’s own student on-campus ambassadors.” Employees can be your greatest advocates, so leverage that resource to build up your referral program.
Follow these tips for a campus ambassador program that will start delivering results this semester.
1. Choose the right colleges and universities. Start by building a test pilot campus ambassador program with a few local schools to ensure you have a solid process in place before launching nationally. Pull data from your applicant tracking system (ATS) to understand where the majority of your campus hires came from in the past. Go back about five years to look for trends, and pinpoint your top schools.
2. Identify your target market. First decide what type of student, in terms of uganda phone number library education and extra-curricular activities, would be best for your company. Segment the student population based on these criteria, and not only should you target schools with these students, but become familiar with the programs and clubs where these students can be found.
3. Establish and maintain an on-campus presence. Most colleges welcome companies to post positions, attend career fairs and host campus interviews and information sessions. But to establish your on-campus brand, it’s important to go beyond these traditional methods (which is the extent of what most companies are doing). Try sponsoring student competitions and consider advertising opportunities in student newspapers, directories and other publications.
4. Utilize social marketing, like social networking and referrals. Referencing an article from ERE.net about college recruiting programs, “Corporate referral sources should include your firm’s newly hired students, your interns, your current recruiting targets, and your employees and their families. Among the campus community, you want to solicit referrals from grad assistants, student organization leaders, tutors, and if you have them, your firm’s own student on-campus ambassadors.” Employees can be your greatest advocates, so leverage that resource to build up your referral program.