Recognized for Excellence in Every Campus Forward Award Category
CLA received a Campus Forward Award for Excellence in Recruitment Strategies, Tech Innovation, Candidate Experience, DE&I, and Internship Programming.
Receiving an award for each category reflects CLA's unwavering excellence and commitment to providing the best experience for the next generation of talent. CLA invests in innovative recruitment strategies, cutting-edge technology, thoughtful candidate experiences, inclusive recruitment practices, and standout internship programs. See below for the highlights of their strategies in each one of these categories.
Excellence in Recruitment Strategies
CLA takes a personalized approach to recruiting early career talent, providing each person an exceptional experience. The firm hosts both in-person and virtual events, offers one-on-one interactions with hiring teams, and organizes year-round events to keep committed hires engaged while they are in school. These hires can also invite friends to events.CLA engages with candidates through Meet the Firms, Beta Alpha Psi meetings, and classroom presentations. Local offices showcase CLA's family culture, educate students about services and industries, and provide mock interviews to refine interview skills. CLA uses a campus recruiting video that aligns with its social media strategy and digital recruiting efforts to foster a broad inclusive reach for guiding inspired careers, and has a strategic relationship with Future Business Leaders of America, Inc.
Excellence in Tech Innovation
CLA has achieved notable success in early career hiring by focusing on students' needs and creating a welcoming environment, both online and in-person. By utilizing technology, CLA has built a comprehensive presentation library that highlights its offerings and aims to support students on their career paths while providing clear and helpful answers to their questions. Furthermore, innovative presentation learning opportunities have been implemented, aiding students in developing their skills and advancing in their professional journeys. CLA also hosts virtual events for committed hires, allowing them to experience the culture of CLA prior to starting their roles. The fully automated Applicant Tracking System enables measurement of the time candidates spend in each stage of the process, which helps improve the candidate experience. Additionally, CLA is committed to providing access to AI for all.
Excellence in Candidate Experience
The team at CLA creates a positive candidate experience for student job seekers by ensuring a thorough and informative hiring process. At CLA, they promise to know and help candidates, including those they are recruiting. The team provides personalized coaching and guidance to help candidates find the best fit for their inspired career, even if it's not with CLA. Their process includes detailed information sessions, one-on-one interactions with hiring teams, and regular feedback. They set candidates up for success by fostering a supportive environment that emphasizes growth and potential. Additionally, they have an in-person approach and remain committed to having a presence on campus while many others have moved away from that strategy.
Excellence in DE&I
CLA embraces and supports the whole person through a culture of inclusion, belonging, and acceptance, emphasizing relationship-building. This approach extends to campus recruiting, where teams receive training on unconscious bias and inclusive recruiting. CLA continually expands its campus relationships and explores new schools to attract diverse talent. The firm continues to elevate efforts while increasing its presence at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and participating in various student events hosted by NABA, ALPFA, and ASCEND nationwide. Currently, CLA is present on 363 campuses, with 104 being MSIs.
Excellence in Internship Programming
CLA’s internship program offers an immersive professional experience, allowing interns to collaborate with seasoned professionals and interact directly with clients across various industries. These interactions help interns develop practical skills and a thorough understanding of the profession. The program focuses on coaching, guidance, and regular feedback for professional growth. In a collaborative and inclusive environment, interns connect with peers, participate in teamwork, and build networks. Before joining CLA, each intern is paired with a peer advisor, fostering an immediate connection to an associate and integrating them into CLA's family culture through an eight-week playbook. This approach includes a detailed onboarding plan with immersive case studies, job shadowing, and hands-on activities, providing early career talent exposure to all aspects of the business.
