Category: Newsletter (page 3 of 13)

The Top 5 Ways to Capture Gen Z’s Attention Online

As the first truly digital generation, Gen Z has grown up with technology at their fingertips. Therefore, businesses and recruiters must know how to capture their attention online. Here at TalentEgg, we spend every day engaging with this exact demographic, and as a result, we have uncovered our top 5 ways to catch Gen Z’s attention:

Utilize Social Media

Gen Z is highly active on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Creating engaging content and targeting your ads to the right audience is critical to reaching this demographic. That is why TalentEgg offers targeted and successful social media ad creatives that are eye-catching. Social media ads use effective algorithms to target the exact audience you want to reach.

Make it Appealing

Incorporating visually stimulating content such as videos, music, and compelling images into your online marketing strategies is vital when capturing Gen Z’s attention. These types of short-form videos remain one of the most effective mediums to connect with students and new grads. Concise, informative, one to five-minute branded videos are increasingly popular as students are more sensitized to quick, easy and immediate content. That is why TalentEgg offers TalentEgg Shorts! TalentEgg Shorts is a video series showcasing your employer brand that grabs students’ and new grads’ attention. You can film up to five one to five-minute episodes for your TalentEgg Shorts Series!

Keep It Real

Gen Z highly values authenticity, and they can easily detect when something is inauthentic. To ensure your messaging is genuine, it’s essential to use real people in your ads or branding and keep your messaging transparent and honest. That’s exactly what you can do during TalentEgg’s TikTok Takeovers! During a TalentEgg TikTok Takeover, your organization can access TalentEgg’s TikTok account for up to five TikTok posts for one week. From tips and tricks videos to TikTok dances with your team, this is your chance to “video-ize” your employer brand and give a genuine and authentic look into your company culture.

Make It Interactive

Engaging with Gen Z is crucial; interactive elements like quizzes, polls, and social media challenges can help. Using TalentEgg’s Instagram Takeover will make the most of these opportunities. By creating polls, quizzes, Q & A’s and giveaways, you can showcase your company’s strengths and demonstrate that you care about connecting with your target audience in ways that matter to them. These interactive strategies will keep your target audience returning and grow your employer’s brand recognition.

Be Mobile-Friendly

Given that Gen Z prefers to interact with content on their phones, optimizing your website and all employer branding content for mobile viewing is crucial. That’s why TalentEgg provides a mobile-friendly, customized employer profile on TalentEgg.ca. Your company’s employer profile on TalentEgg.ca is search engine optimized so that you can amplify your employee value proposition more effectively. This employer profile is the starting point for students, recent grads, and early-career professionals to learn about your organization’s employer brand, career opportunities and recruitment messaging.

At TalentEgg, our team of Gen Z marketing experts can help you achieve your employer branding goals. We are just scratching the surface regarding all the important ways of capturing Gen Z’s attention online! So, if you want to learn more about how to reach Gen Z effectively, contact our recruitment marketing experts today at info@talentegg.ca, and TalentEgg will grow your employer branding strategy to new heights!

Career Coaching: Navigating Challenges and Inspiring Success

June 22, 2023 / Charlie Gibbons / 0 Comments

TalentEgg had the privilege of interviewing Shelly Elsliger, a seasoned Career Consultant/Coach. She has a rich background of 20 years in higher education career coaching at renowned university business schools like John Molson School of Business at Concordia University and Rotman Commerce at the University of Toronto. DEI is an integral part of all her endeavours. When working with students, she diligently prepares them for interviews and addresses DEI-related inquiries.

Shelly’s Career Inspiration

We were curious to know what inspired Shelly to pursue career education, to which she responded, “I think Career Coaching found me.” She states how she checked out a local Youth Employment Services Center in Montreal during her early twenties. She spoke to the director and felt an immediate connection, promptly asking for mentorship. Her wish was granted, and she shadowed the director for months, quickly realizing she had found her passion and never looked back.

Shelly told us, “I find it a rewarding career that constantly changes and challenges me. I am always looking for ways to challenge students, build their confidence, and help them explore and find ways to design their career development process. I never just settle and always believe that there is always more I can do as a Career Coach.”

Shelly’s Greatest Achievements

When asked about her most significant achievements in her career, Shelly answered, “My greatest achievement must be my ability to help students understand professional branding .” She explained how many students face imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and FOMO to the point where they feel they can’t progress in their careers.

She harnesses her extensive knowledge in this field, offering valuable guidance to students. Shelly enables them to grasp the mechanics of LinkedIn algorithms and effectively construct their narratives as practical tools for in-person and online networking. When she sees that her work helps students transform and achieve this (she calls it an Oprah Ah-ha moment), it makes her “heart and soul full.”

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Among Students’ And New Grads’

As mentioned prior, DEI is a significant aspect of Shelly’s work. She touches on her qualifications and values, “I am certified in Leadership and Inclusion. When it comes to serving students, I place an important goal on making each coaching, workshop, or event experience as inclusive as I can. I have never been someone who treats students with a “buffet” style approach. I get to know students at a deeper level and always try to build their confidence and their sense of belonging.” Shelly adds that each student she interacts with is different from the last. She must wear a “different hat” for each student.

Shelly’s diverse “hat collection” enhances her readiness to support students from various cultures and backgrounds. “I hope to model an important lesson for students: an understanding that fostering inclusive behaviours will help them be better in terms of individual, team, and organizational contributions when they move from the world of school to the world of work,” she concludes.

Mental Health Among Students’ And New Grads’

We wondered how mental health factors into what Shelly does. “Everyone has a story we know nothing about. I always keep that in mind when working with students. Knowing the signs and doing something about it is so important in the work I do. I got certified in Mental Health CPR from the Mental Health Commission of Canada and LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) so I can know the signs and lessen the barriers that exist,” she explains.

Shelly mentions that she provides a safe space for students, who can depend on her if they need help or just someone to talk to. She expands further, stating, “in some cases, a conversation and safe place to come is not enough. In some cases, students are experiencing thoughts of suicide, and it is part of my role to make sure they have the right resources available.”

Successfully Transitioning Students from School-to-Work

As a primary focus of her position, we asked Shelly how she helps students transition from school to the workplace, especially in the post-pandemic digital age. She responded, “There is still the catch-22 when it comes to experience, so incorporating different programs and offerings on campus to simulate real-world situations and build skills is important. I am a big believer that diverse experiences can help students grow in diverse ways. Students often lack confidence and confidence is key.” Shelly states it is important to stay outside the box when assisting in this area with services like workshops, guest speakers, coaching sessions, and more.

Students’ Biggest Pain Points

Shelly was kind enough to provide insights on the most considerable pain points her students often encounter in a job search in 2023. She highlighted eight:

Branding and standing out for recruitment
Interview tips and practice
Job search and where to find diverse opportunities
Navigating job search as an international student and what employers are open to hiring international students
Lack of work experience
The competitive and changing job market
Knowing what jobs match their academic background
Their approach to building relationships and approaching decision-makers

Shelly mentions that the prominence of technology has transformed the recruitment landscape, introducing ambiguity and a sense of unpreparedness due to constant change. This shift has heightened the need to anticipate the unexpected, creating a heightened sense of urgency. She adds that students perceive how technology poses new challenges. Previously, creating an attractive resume was difficult enough. Now, insecurity and frustration arise as they wonder if their resume will navigate the ATS pipeline and reach recruiters. “There is definitely an increased feeling of not ‘being enough’ or ‘having enough’ and this constant message and nagging of keeping up in terms of skill demands and expectations,” Shelly closes.

How Employers Can Support Young Talent

Shelly shared her advice for employers on better supporting their student personnel. She advises employers to highlight expectations clearly; there should be no ambiguity. A thorough onboarding process is another suggestion, as well as ensuring students are accommodated for whatever they may need in their position. Furthermore, transparency, training, and collaboration are keywords she underscores as essential for employers to focus on when supporting students in the workplace.

How Employers Can Connect with Top Students

We were curious to know Shelly’s thoughts on the best ways for employers to connect with students. She mentions an on-campus presence is crucial. “This is a way to be involved in something unique and a way to stand out. My only suggestion is to put some thought and consideration into what you will do and how you will do it. Students want to show you what they have, and they want to know your ‘WHY,'” she explains. Employers must tap into what students are looking for and make themselves memorable. Info Sessions, workshops, and case competitions are all great ways to have a campus presence. She adds that free merch and food won’t cut it. Make your company feel meaningful, and do not waste the student’s time. Make a lasting impression.

Advice for Fellow Career Educators

We asked Shelly for advice she has for other career educators who are getting started in the field, as well as some guidance for the post-pandemic era. She provided five tips for career educators who are starting out:

Take a coaching certificate; it will change the way you interact with students, support dialogue, and build trust
Take time to figure out the lay of the land and set up times to meet people to gather perspective. Make sure to meet people beyond who you will directly be working with daily but the important folk involved in the student journey
Be open to collaboration. Great things happen when diverse stakeholders work to create learning experiences
Ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are the foundation of all you do so that every student feels like they belong
Build your resource library so you always have more to offer

She adds five tips for career educators in the post-pandemic landscape:

Understand that things are different and accept that adapting will take time.
Prepare to see some new graduates or even older alums return for career help due to layoffs, especially in tech
Commit to understanding the new way of doing things and be up to date on trends like; recruitment strategies, the gig economy, the importance of networking, applicant tracking systems and resume development, virtual interviewing and virtual recruitment, micro-certifications, and ChatGPT to name a few
Make sure you know where students can go for the right resources in case they need additional support in other areas, for example, mental health resources on campus
Give students the opportunity and the space to explore and “develop many possible career selves” and provide support and insight into new career options

Conclusion

Shelly concluded our discussion by sharing her “quote of the day.” She mentioned that she has an “inspiration board” that always includes inspirational quotes for students. She stated that students had told her that her quotes had provided affirmation for them when they needed it most. She shared her quote with us from Thomas Edison, who stated, “If we all did the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

Shelly Elsliger has been a Career Coach for more than 20 years. She has worked at both John Molson School of Business (Concordia University) and Rotman Commerce (University of Toronto). Currently, Shelly is a Consultant who now operates her own business, Linked-Express and is also a Senior Career, Leadership, and Inclusion Coach for CareerJoy.

The class of 2023 feels unprepared, but their skills are in demand, study shows

June 14, 2023 / Guest Author / 0 Comments

After spending a large portion of their academic journey learning remotely, the class of 2023 feels largely unprepared to enter a rapidly changing work force, according to a new survey. But research suggests graduates may be in better shape than they realize.

While there are economic forces to contend with such as inflation and a high cost of living, the job market for new graduates remains relatively strong. Despite missing out on some traditional work experiences during the pandemic, many bring distinct skills and experiences that are valued by employers.

According to a yet-to-be-published survey by TalentEgg, a career resource provider dedicated to Canadian students and recent graduates, 77 per cent of new graduates are worried about inflation and 54 per cent fear a looming recession.

“They’re also feeling somewhat unprepared for the workplace, which doesn’t surprise me,” says TalentEgg chief executive officer CEO Mary Barroll. “After three isolating years of working and studying remotely, students and grads have had less opportunity to have experiences in the workplace that [aren’t] remote.”

According to the survey, 80 per cent of new graduates felt they needed additional training to enter the work force; 89 per cent believe they need better presentation and communication skills and 73 per cent feel they need more conflict resolution training.

Despite valid concerns over a worsening economy and a lack of in-person work experience, Ms. Barroll says entry-level workers remain in high demand in most sectors of the economy.

“We’re seen a big increase in employers wanting to work with us recently, which means they have more jobs that they’re trying to fill,” she says. “Across the board most of our employer clients – and they are typically big enterprise clients who are looking to build a pipeline of young talent – are actively hiring students and grads.”

Furthermore, Ms. Barroll suggests that though the pandemic weakened some of their social skills it also equipped new graduates with other employable traits.

“Students would be well advised to remember how resilient and adaptable they’ve proven themselves to be,” she says. “They can use those lessons in resilience and adaptability to navigate a changing world, and they should take pride in the fact that they’ve done so well under such difficult circumstances.”

According to a recent survey of employers by Brainstorm Strategy Group, adaptability and resilience rank fifth on employers list of the skills they most want to see in student and recent graduate job candidates. The most desired trait by employers of entry-level staff is communication skills.

Brainstorm’s president Graham Donald says employers often complain of a lack of work force preparedness among entry-level workers, but suggests the problem might be more pronounced among the graduating class of 2023.

“Employers and the school advisory members are saying the same thing; that because of the pandemic students are pretty good at working virtually, but they are really not well equipped to come into the workplace,” he says.

Mr. Donald says students typically graduate with some in-person work experience, either from summer jobs, co-op placements or part time work, but says it’s become harder for employers to find entry-level staff who are comfortable navigating an office environment. He advises recent graduates to be present in the office, suggesting that in-person connections are particularly important to this cohort.

“If the opportunity is there, go as much as you can,” he says. “That’s how [career] opportunities open up, because people don’t build the same relationships virtually, there’s just no comparison.”

Mr. Donald says networking is especially hard for young people, as they have less of a network to build on. He suggests starting by reaching out to fellow alumni to request a few minutes of their time.

“If you call a graduate from your program, they will most certainly say they will be happy to talk to you,” he says. “Never ask them if they have a job for you; ask them about their career, how they got there and about their career path.”

Developing those communication, networking, and other soft skills, according to new research from LinkedIn, may even prove more valuable to graduates than their actual degree.

“Your educational institution, and your degree, while important, is no longer something that directly places you in front of an employer,” says Riva Gold, the senior news editor of LinkedIn Canada. “Increasingly employers are looking beyond your degree to your skills, and that means they’re also looking to widen their candidate pool.”

According to Ms. Gold recent graduates can pursue opportunities in most industries regardless of their educational background, so long as they can demonstrate the necessary skills.

“You need to be adaptable, and forward looking, and nimble, and ready to pivot, rather than investing in a specific career ladder, just because of what you studied,” she says. “A learning mindset has always been important for career starters, but as the specific skills needed to do particular jobs change really rapidly, employers are increasingly focusing not just on the technical skill set you have at the moment, but your demonstrated ability to learn and apply new skills to get results.”

JARED LINDZON
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Be sure to check out all the TalentEgg editorials dedicated to student and new grad recruitment and success today!

Exclusive Insights: 2023 #TEAwards Survey

June 8, 2023 / Charlie Gibbons / 0 Comments

During our 2023 TalentEgg Virtual National Recruitment Excellence Awards & Conference, we conducted several live surveys – to try and gather insights relating to the workplace and recruitment trends. We surveyed over 90 attendees consisting of recruiters, career coaches and educators. Here are the trends we discovered and the insights you should note.

IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVES IN THE WORKPLACE

In today’s world, the significance of mental health in the workplace cannot be overstated. When we asked attendees if their leadership could benefit from additional training in supporting employee mental health and wellness, an overwhelming 100% responded with a resounding “yes.”

This statistic shows that mental health initiatives are in high demand amongst working professionals and that employers, schools and career centers want to continue to grow their mental health initiatives and create a safe and welcoming environment for all students, new grads and working professionals. That’s why we created our new Mental Health & Psychological Safety In The Workplace Master Certificate Program on our TalentEgg eLearning Academy site. With these courses designed for managers and team leaders, you can build a psychologically safe workplace where employee mental health is a high priority.

This 10-course Master Certificate Program, developed by leading psychologists and mental health professionals, explores the many facets of workplace mental health. Clinicians will guide managers, leaders, and HR representatives on best practices and strategies for fostering psychological safety and well-being at work. The interactive modules explain the many aspects of workplace mental health, and clinicians provide clear guidance on optimally addressing these delicate and complex issues in a work setting.

Move your organization forward and build the foundation for a psychologically safe workplace where mental health and wellness are a core value and a lived experience for your employees.

EMPOWERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE

Researching companies’ diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and initiatives before applying has become routine for students, recent graduates, and working professionals. That’s why it is essential for employers to invest in DEI initiatives like DEI training. We asked attendees, “Do you think more DEI training should be offered in your workplace?” 100% of the respondents said yes.

This stat shows that there is an increasing demand for DEI training. That’s why we at TalentEgg have released our Diversity, Sensitivity, and Inclusion: Promoting Anti-Discrimination and Equity in the Workplace course on the TalentEgg eLearning Academy website.

We understand the importance of placing your brand at the forefront of all your endeavours. With this in mind, the TalentEgg eLearning Academy offers a white-label custom-branded version designed to seamlessly integrate into your existing onboarding training, reflecting your unique employer brand identity. Our comprehensive offering allows complete customization and branding of the courseware, ensuring a cohesive and tailored learning experience for your employees, putting your brand front and centre.

Once you invest in DEI initiatives, amplifying them is vital. That’s why we asked the question, “Do you think targeted DEI Eblasts sent to DEI student clubs and associations would support your diversity recruitment?” 93% of respondents said that DEI eblasts would support their diversity recruitment.

This statistic is the reason why we are rolling out our DEI Eblasts. Our specialized TalentEgg DEI Eblasts offer an even more focused approach to reaching the precise target audience of diverse young talent. By utilizing our extensive database comprising over 1000+ DEI clubs and student associations from 30+ universities and colleges across Canada, our exclusive and one-of-a-kind TalentEgg DEI Eblasts, allow your organization to strategically target specific equity-seeking or underrepresented groups, including 2SLGBTQ+, BIPOC groups, marginalized communities, women-led organizations, and disability-focused organizations. This focused approach ensures that your DEI messaging reaches the intended audience precisely and maximizes your promotional efforts’ impact while helping you accelerate your diversity hiring efforts! Inquire here to learn more.

SOFT SKILLS ARE CRITICAL SKILLS; DOES YOUR YOUNG TALENT HAVE THEM?

Our 2023 Guide to Recruitment highlights how imperative soft skills are for the career success of students and new graduates. When attendees were asked, “Do you think Soft Skills are critical for young talents in the workplace?” 100% of respondents agreed. When we asked them if they believed their company should invest in Soft Skills Training, 100% of the respondents also answered “yes.”

The urgency to equip students and new grads with the necessary soft skills for the workplace is apparent. It is essential to take immediate action to secure career success for your young talent. That’s why we have continued to grow our TalentEgg eLearning Academy.

TalentEgg’s eLearning Academy offers courses that teach introductory workplace soft skills for students and new grads making the school-to-work transition to enter their first internships, coops or full-time jobs, and intermediate soft skills to help young working professionals thrive on the job and advance in their careers. With an investment in soft skills, you will gain better-prepared, more effective and confident employees while increasing employee engagement and reducing turnovers. It’s a win-win for both your young talent and your company. There is no better time to invest in your talent’s soft skills. Contact us to get your custom-branded version of the TalentEgg eLearning Academy soft skills courses to fit seamlessly into your other onboarding and professional development courseware to help your new hires and existing employees be the best career professionals they can be.

From our extensive experience working with employers, students, and recent grads, we learned there is frequently a skills gap in students leaving school to enter the workforce successfully. We help employers address this gap through two specialized TalentEgg Academy eLearning Programs: Backpack to Briefcase: Introduction to Workplace Soft Skills and Briefcase to Boardroom: Intermediate Soft Skills to Advance Careers.

VIRTUAL METHODS OF ENGAGING YOUNG TALENT

In the modern recruitment era, online and digital methods are crucial to bringing on young talent. During our “Students & Grads’ Career Wishlist for 2023” panel, we asked industry professionals and recruiters their most effective virtual methods of engaging with students and young talent. The most common responses were “Virtual Career Events / Info Sessions” and “Social Media.”

In 2023, we found that 19% of students went to no virtual career events this year, and 30% went to zero in-person career events. We identified one primary reason for their limited attendance at career events. They expressed a lack of interest and knowledge in the career fairs and events that were available to them.

This fact shows that marketing is vital to the success of your event. So it’s crucial to promote your events and publish them on as many websites and social media platforms as possible for search engine optimization (SEO) purposes and to expand your reach to as many students and new grads as possible. If you are having trouble getting Gen Z to sign up for your events, you should utilize our Unlimited Event Postings, included as an essential element of our TalentEgg Annual Campaigns.

The other most effective way to engage with students and new grads is through social media. At TalentEgg, we have invested substantially in the past year to enhance our follower count, increase impressions, and drive engagement to new heights. Using TalentEgg’s social media channels, followed by students and grads actively looking for jobs, is a great way to build your followers among your target candidates and support your campus recruitment outreach.

TalentEgg also offers various social media services to our clients that aid in boosting engagement and reaching Gen Z talent. These services include TalentEgg Social Media Takeovers for Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn, TalentEgg Shorts, TalentEgg Social Media Promotion, TalentEgg Social Media Ads, and more. Inquire here to learn more.

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