Building an Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruiting

Cargill has invested in various sourcing technologies such as Handshake and LinkedIn, and continues to explore new platforms to find the best way to connect with students. In addition to the 30+ school partnerships, Cargill also takes a school-agnostic approach to ensuring all applicants are reviewed to ensure cognitive diversity across their programs. For over a decade Cargill has partnered with multiple National Minority Organizations to recruit and source top diverse talent, and this past year launched a $6 million dollar investment to support the education and development of underrepresented students as part of the thrive scholarship program. This innovative approach to engaging with diverse students not only sets students up for financial success but goes the extra step to ensure they have the tools and resources to succeed professionally as well.

Crafting a Standout Candidate Experience

Cargill’s University Recruitment team works hard to ensure a positive candidate experience from initial application throughout the various stages of the process. Cargill strives to make sure candidates receive timely communication around the status of their application, especially after interview or when there may be long pauses in the evaluation process (e.g. over the holidays/new year). Cargill’s interview processes have remained virtual through the pandemic allowing candidates faster scheduling, no travel and greater flexibility. Additionally, Cargill publicly highlights their university application processes on their careers page to help candidates understand what to expect after applying.

Moving the Needle on Diversity & Inclusion

Cargill recruits through a variety of channels including on-campus recruiting, school-agnostic applicant reviews, sourcing through virtual channels such as LinkedIn and Handshake, National Minority Organizations, and by investing in long-term relationships through Cargill’s thrive program at select HBCU, HSI and other universities. Once new hires start their career with Cargill, they have access to over nine different employee resource groups, dedicated time to volunteer in the community, access to mentorship, and various mental health and well-being resources. Cargill also has a continuing education tuition reimbursement for eligible programs, and a robust learning and development platform for self-guided learning and professional enhancement.