Recognized for Excellence
Abbott received a Campus Forward Award for Excellence in Early Career Recruitment Strategy, Innovation in Action, and Excellence in Candidate Experience.
This award celebrates the team’s strong dedication to fostering forward-thinking campus recruiting programs that convert top student talent, investing in advanced technology and AI transforming early career recruiting, and championing a standout candidate experience with authentic branding and transparent communication. See below for the highlights of their innovative approach to early career recruitment.
Excellence in Early Career Recruitment Strategy
Abbott has evolved its early-career and intern recruitment strategy by aligning hiring practices with business priorities and leveraging data-driven insights. They used historical hiring and conversion data, a strategic forecasting tool tailored to division-specific skill needs, and Predictive Index assessments to create a scalable, targeted approach. Collaborating with HR and business stakeholders, they realigned local and corporate strategies while strengthening pipelines through grassroots STEM programs, the Research Park internships, freshman-level enrichment opportunities, and AI-powered early identification. Additionally, they re-evaluated campus recruitment models, expanded sourcing tools like RippleMatch, and standardized processes to ensure they attracted diverse, best-in-class talent that meets long-term business needs.
Innovation in Action
At Abbott, the Early Careers team is committed to leveraging advanced technology and creative solutions to enhance recruitment and engagement. Their initiatives include using AI-driven talent matching and predictive assessments, streamlining virtual interview scheduling, and introducing global programs such as Career Rx—a comprehensive, self-paced career readiness platform designed to support Early Career talent worldwide. One standout example is their partnership with RippleMatch, which has enabled them to increase AI-matched hiring by 500%, dramatically improving efficiency and ensuring stronger alignment between candidates and roles. They have also leveraged Microsoft Copilot to continuously improve resources through updated playbooks and storytelling campaigns that foster connection and engagement.
Excellence in Candidate Experience
Abbott has prioritized delivering a superior experience for interns and candidates. This includes maintaining high satisfaction scores, achieving strong conversion rates, and sustaining top external rankings like Vault’s #1 internship in Health Sciences. Their engagement strategies included intentional drip campaigns to incoming interns, career readiness programs designed to build foundational skills, and high-impact events (CEO Address, Leveling Up with Abbott Leaders networking) to reinforce program excellence and brand reputation. From the beginning, Abbott interns work on meaningful, challenging projects with a direct impact on the business. The Early Careers team collaborates with the business and technical advisors to design impactful and meaningful internship assignments for each student.
