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Tag: campus recruitment (page 1 of 33)

Career Coaching: Navigating Challenges and Inspiring Success

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:

  1. Branding and standing out for recruitment
  2. Interview tips and practice
  3. Job search and where to find diverse opportunities
  4. Navigating job search as an international student and what employers are open to hiring international students
  5. Lack of work experience
  6. The competitive and changing job market
  7. Knowing what jobs match their academic background
  8. 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:

  1. Take a coaching certificate; it will change the way you interact with students, support dialogue, and build trust
  2. 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
  3. Be open to collaboration. Great things happen when diverse stakeholders work to create learning experiences
  4. Ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion are the foundation of all you do so that every student feels like they belong
  5. Build your resource library so you always have more to offer

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

  1. Understand that things are different and accept that adapting will take time. 
  2. Prepare to see some new graduates or even older alums return for career help due to layoffs, especially in tech
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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.

Exclusive Insights: 2023 #TEAwards Survey

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.

Announcing the Finalists of the 2023 TalentEgg National Recruitment Excellence Awards and Conference!

Congratulations to the finalists of the 2023 TalentEgg National Recruitment Excellence Awards and Conference! We are beyond egg-cited to celebrate with you and announce the winners at our Virtual Awards and Conference on June 7, 2023

The TalentEgg Awards applications are evaluated by our team of hand-picked, top student judges from across Canada, who give a student perspective and first-hand feedback on career development programs, employer branding, recruitment strategies and more.

Please join us at this year’s Awards and Conference to celebrate the winners and check out insightful panels with our egg-cellent lineup of expert speakers from the recruitment and career development space. We will share critical insights from our Student, New Grad, and Early Career Survey conducted this spring to understand how they feel about DEI and mental health initiatives, how to improve the workplace, and so much more! We will explore new and improved virtual tools to help employers continue to engage and attract top candidates. We will also share best practices for developing soft skills and diversity in the workplace.

Don’t miss out! Early bird Tickets are available NOW and end May 12 at 11:59 PM!

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for… your 2023 Finalists!

2023 TalentEgg National Recruitment Excellence Awards Finalists

Please note: Finalists are listed in alphabetical order.

Best Grad Program

Best Campus Career Website

Best Internship/Co-Op Program

Campus Recruiting Program of the Year

Campus Recruiting Program of the Year for a Nonprofit

Campus Recruiter of the Year (Individual)

  • Maddie Whibbs – BlackBerry
  • Michelle Ouellet – BDO Canada LLP
  • Pragya Gupta – Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Best Employer Branding and Outreach

Best Social Media Presence

  • Tata Consultancy Services Ltd

Special Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Recruiting

  • Worley
  • Dejero
  • Fidelity Investments Canada

Special Award for Corporate Social Responsibility in Recruiting

Best Contribution to Student Career Development (Schools)

  • McMaster University
  • University of Toronto Mississauga Career Centre

Best Contribution to Student Career Development (Employers)

Best Use of Student Competitions for Recruitment

Special Award for Innovation by a Career Centre

Best Contribution to Mental Health in the Workspace

Career Coach/Educator of the Year (Individual)

  • Brenda Okorogba – Momentswithbren Consulting Inc
  • Emma Hartley – Yorkville University, Career Services
  • Shaunna-Marie Kerr – York University School of Continuing Studies
  • Sonny Wong, M.Ed. RP – Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Tiffany MacDonald – Dalhousie University Management Career Services

Thank you, and See You at the 2023 #TEAwards!

Thank you to all the employers, career centres and educational institutions participating this year. We can’t wait to celebrate the finalists and winners at our Awards & Conference on June 7, 2023! Join us for a day of recruitment tips, networking, and learning opportunities from industry experts. You’ll surely gain great insights with new and relevant discussion topics!

Don’t miss out! Early bird Tickets are available NOW and end May 12 at 11:59 PM!

Exclusive Insights Live from our 2022 #TEAwards Surveys

Over 80 recruiters and industry professionals attended our 2022 TalentEgg Awards and Conference to celebrate the best recruitment practices among students and recent grads. During the virtual event, we conducted several surveys to uncover exclusive insights into the future of recruitment and the workplace.

EMPLOYEES ARE HAPPY WITH HYBRID AND REMOTE WORKPLACES

We asked recruiters and industry professionals questions: “What kind of workplace do you have?” and “What is the best part of your new workplace model?” 5% responded “In Office”, 36% responded “Remote”, while 59% responded “Hybrid”. Regarding the best part of their new workplace model, most respondents are happy about the comfort of working from home while still being able to connect with colleagues. In the post-pandemic aftermath, hybrid workplaces are the newest trend that will become the new normal.

Insights

SOFT SKILLS ARE THE NEW CRITICAL SKILLS

In our Guide to Recruitment 2022, we empathize the importance of soft skills for the career success of students and new graduates. We asked our awards and conference attendees to tell us if they think “soft skills are critical for young talents in the workplace?” All respondents said “Yes.” When we asked them if they believe their company should invest in Soft Skills Training, all respondents said “Yes” too.

Students’ hard skills are learned in the classroom, whereas soft skills come from experiences, group projects, and daily interactions, which people must go out of their way to develop. Soft skills make for a healthy working environment, drive positive change, help solve problems more efficiently, increase sales and help improve employee retention.

Before the pandemic, students and grads expressed their need for additional training before entering the workforce and continued learning opportunities. Therefore at TalentEgg, we are egg-cited to excited to announce the launch of our E-Learning Platform. TalentEgg’s eLearning Academy offers courses that teach introductory workplace soft skills for students and grads and intermediate soft skills to advance careers. These courses support Canada’s top talent’s school-to-work transition and early career development. To learn more about our eLearning Academy and Soft Skills, download our Guide to Recruitment 2022.

THE DEMAND FOR TAKING ACTION ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE

It is now a habit for students, recent graduates, and working professionals to research each company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies before applying. We asked attendees, “What is the most important DEI initiative in your workplace?” Among the answers were “having appropriate hiring practices in place,” “accessible website,” “ERG,” and “inclusive recruitment strategies,” to name a few. If you are a recruiter or HR professional, sit down with your company leaders and discuss practical ways to integrate diversity and inclusion into the workplace.

Social media, blogs, and websites are great for promoting your DEI initiatives, but it can sometimes be hard to target those initiatives to the audience you intend to promote. That’s why coming soon to TalentEgg; we will be offering DEI eblasts. These eblasts will be targeted and sent to DEI clubs in over 30+ universities and colleges across Canada.

If you’re unsure of what implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives or training in the workplace may look like, we at TalentEgg are here to help you take that first step. We have a whole chapter on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace, in our Guide to Recruitment 2022. 

NEW TRENDS FOR THE FUTURE OF CAMPUS RECRUITMENT

Due to the many options for recruiters, it can be challenging to choose where to put your campus recruitment efforts. When we asked attendees: “Do you think your campus recruitment strategies were up to date and effective in attracting young talent?” 57% of respondents answered with a “Yes” while 43% answered with a “No.” When we asked them, “Do you think your company should invest in new strategies to attract young talent?” all respondents agreed that their organizations should implement new strategies.

For many employers, a meaningful way to showcase their employer brand and capture students and recent grad’s attention is through events. Workplaces increasingly shifted to digital events during the pandemic, and this is a trend we believe is here to stay. Having your employer brand online is also critical to capture the attention of students and new grads.

Students and new grads overwhelmingly look for jobs on job board websites. Centralizing your organization’s recruitment efforts on job boards like TalentEgg is essential to developing and growing your employer brand beyond your career website to meet job seekers where they are. TalentEgg is not just a job board; we are also an employer branding platform to help you build and amplify your brand with hundreds of thousands of new grads and students.

But besides job boards, social media is by far the best way to engage students and new grads. Due to the rise of TikTok as the new preeminent platform, the digital landscape has dramatically changed. Successfully reaching students and recent grads on social media platforms requires a lot of work and time. Therefore, TalentEgg has invested heavily in the past year on Instagram and TikTok to enable our clients to use our TalentEgg platforms to access a broad audience of students and recent grads.

We are happy to announce that TalentEgg now offers TikTok Takeovers. During these TikToks, your organization can access TalentEgg’s TikTok account for one week, helping showcase your employer brand.

In addition, we are also launching TalentEgg Shorts, a video series showcasing your employer brand to help you grab students’ and new grads’ attention. With the fast pace and engaging graphics and music of our TalentEgg Shorts, the videos will be jam-packed with information while keeping them tight, concise and compelling. To learn more about our TikTok Takeovers and TalentEgg Shorts, download our Guide to Recruitment 2022.

THE CONTINUING IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE

Finally, mental health initiatives and awareness have gone a long way in the past few years, but much work still needs to be done. We asked our awards and conference attendees to tell us, “Do you think your employer provides sufficient mental health and wellness support?” The most common answer was “Yes.” We asked them, “Do you think your leadership would benefit from more training in supporting mental health and wellness of their employees?” 100% of respondents said “Yes.”

Workplaces can play a crucial part in mandating positive mental health for their workers. Furthermore, students and graduates report that mental health support at work is an essential factor in deciding where they want to work.

Here at TalentEgg, we realize that mental health training is in high demand amongst students, new grads and working professionals. We also know that as employers, schools and career centers, you want to continue to grow your 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.

For more trends on recruitment, the new digital recruitment word, and a glimpse of the future of the post-pandemic workplace, check out our Guide to Recruitment 2022 package, brought to you by our team at TalentEgg.

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