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Try putting a face behind your recruiting effort

Recruiting is becoming more competitive than ever. If old, proven ways of getting college graduates to take a serious look at your company are not working, consider putting a face behind your recruiting effort. This advice comes from Martha Hill, department chair for landscape management technology at Hinds Community College in Raymond, Mississippi.

“Recruiters call us all the time looking for potential employees,” says Hill. “Unfortunately, if students don’t recognize a company name or are otherwise unfamiliar with what the company does, they are unlikely to consider taking on an internship or employment there. Even if I know the company and its recruiter, having firsthand knowledge goes much further with students than any information I can give them.”

Hill offers several examples of ways to become known to her students. “Teach a class, host a field day, or invite us to look at one of your unique projects,” she relates. “If you teach a class, try to focus on specific topics such as talking about how your company estimates the cost of a project or develops and uses business systems. Talk about your company culture and how you work with Hispanic and other nonAmerican workers. Almost any topic will be of interest, and by addressing the class, you will be getting your face and company name in front of students.”

A member of PLANET’s Inter­national Certification Council, Hill says company recruiters have several means at their disposal to turn what would be an average classroom discussion into a more meaningful one for all parties. “If you teach a class, consider bringing along a couple of pizzas or other snacks for the students and hold an informal discussion before your presentation. The move will allow students to become comfortable with you and give them the confidence to ask more questions about your company after your presentation. If your company employs a former student from the school, bring him or her along, as well.”

Career fair and more

Hill has a host of other ways to get your face and company in front of students. Hinds Community College, for example, holds a fall Interview Day and invites companies from Mississippi and surrounding states to attend. Companies bring along displays and brochures. And, as the name suggests, students can sign up for interviews with one or more of the recruiters.

“Certainly, PLANET’s Student Career Days (SCD), unique in our industry and any industry, presents a tremendous opportunity to students and recruiters alike,” she adds. “Students see a cross-section of the industry and companies have an opportunity to talk with top horticulture and landscaping students from dozens of schools.” As a professor, SCD is a command performance for Hill and her students, just as it is for many companies and recruiters across the country.

But not everyone has the budget or the time to travel to career fairs and other events. For them, the alternative is to invite schools to their facilities. “Over the years, I’ve been to a few faculty retreats where companies invite faculty members in for dinner and a tour of their facility,” says Hill. “It’s all about networking and getting to know one another. One of the most valuable experiences I had when I first started teaching was to spend a week visiting with eight to 10 green industry ­com­­panies. I still value many of the relationships I made during those ­visits.”

She continues, “Companies that take the time and effort to get to know faculty members and students, especially students, receive a huge return on their investment. And it doesn’t or shouldn’t stop at the college level. Making a similar effort with area high schools can be just as valuable in the long run. When I visit high schools, I also try to bring along a representative from an area green industry company and a student from our department who might have attended or graduated from that high school. Current students are our best recruiters. I think teachers and company recruiters need to get involved earlier in a student’s education, and work together to pique their interest about a career in the green industry.”

In all recruiting efforts, though, it’s the “face time” that pays off, Hill re-emphasizes. When students can put a name and face on a company, they inherently pay closer attention to the message — and that’s a big first step toward generating enthusiasm and interest in learning more about a company and an industry.