Conference recap: How RIM Retains More Students By Creating A Better Experience by Evan Birtch

It’s essential that students have an amazing experience every step of the way when they’re interacting with your organization, including on social media, at on-campus visits, during the application process, throughout their work terms, and even after their internships or co-op terms are over.

That’s the message Evan Birtch, Team Lead, Campus Programs at Research In Motion, brought to his fellow campus recruiters and human resources professionals at the Campus Recruitment Excellence Conference.

Follow @EvanBirtch

Follow @RIMstudents

Evan outlined some of the company’s best practices to ensure that students not only want to come work at RIM in the first place, but that they will stay on with the company for additional work terms or to enter a full-time, entry level role after graduation, and recommend RIM to their friends and classmates.

Bottom line: “The actual work a student does while on their work term is only one factor that impacts their overall experience while at your company.”

The great thing about Evan’s presentation was that it could certainly apply to employers outside of the technology industry as well.

learning How Black Berry / RIM #retains students by via #Facebook, twitter #socialmedia #TEawards & 4square. improving candidate experience

— Jason Kipps (@Jay_Kipps) May 14, 2012

At the #TEawards let’s talk #socialmedia with RIM.

— Tara Seitz (@T_Seitz) May 14, 2012

Listening to Evan Birtch of @blackberry #teawards !! Great morning so far 🙂

— Anthea (@Anthea__T) May 14, 2012

Cool! @evanbirtch says students returning to @RIMstudents are eligible to get a #BlackBerry to use throughout the school year! #TEawards

— Cassandra Jowett (@cassandrajowett) May 14, 2012

#TEawards #recruiting #retention Ignore candidate experience = brand suffers and deplete talent bank for future hires, great RIM present

— Jason Kipps (@Jay_Kipps) May 14, 2012

Very cool strategies from #RIM and @EvanBirtch to retain their students year after year. #TEawards #ambassador program is very innovative!

— AIESEC Canada (@AIESECcanada) May 14, 2012