Best Practices for Collaborating with Universities and Business Schools for Fresh Hiring and Internship Programs? | Chandra Kumar CS | CHRO and Head Customer Experience | Varthana

The Human Resources team plays a crucial role in meeting the talent requirements of any organization. An effective talent strategy goes beyond recruitment; it should ensure a clear approach to fulfilling current and future talent needs in an evolving business landscape. Key considerations include cost, timeliness, flexibility, readiness, scalability, and their impact on business performance and organizational culture.

A significant aspect of this strategy is sourcing and nurturing fresh talent. However, fresher programs often take a backseat due to challenges such as high attrition, extended time to productivity, and the investment of managerial resources in training. As a result, organizations frequently prioritize campus recruitment only as a tool to minimize costs. From the fresher’s perspective, campus placement decisions are often influenced by peer preference, brand reputation, and remuneration. There might be a misalignment of interest levels, skills, and career aspirations in campus hiring.

To effectively develop a fresher/campus hiring strategy, organizations should focus on the following best practices:

1. Identifying and Reaching Out to the Right Campuses

> Targeted Selection: The most renowned institutions may not always yield the best candidates. Focus on campuses that align with your specific skill requirements, geographic preferences, and budget.
> Broaden fresher recruitment sources: Explore various skilling institutes, both online and offline, that produce skilled freshers.

2. Analyzing recruitment success

Data-Driven Insights: Continuously evaluate your fresher recruitment data to identify successful sources, refine the selection process, enhance branding, and determine competitive compensation.

3. Developing Campus Relations

Long-Term Partnerships: After identifying target campuses, cultivate long-term relationships through:

o Industry Orientation Talks: Host discussions that introduce your organization and its values.
o Leadership Engagement: Involve senior leaders in talks and workshops to connect with students and showcase organizational vision.
o Career Development Programs: Offer workshops and seminars that help students understand the skills needed in your organization.

4. Familiarizing Students with the Organization

Industry Visits and Projects: Facilitate academic projects and industry visits to immerse students in your organizational culture and work environment. This investment in students fosters skill development and enhances their understanding of job profiles.