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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Co-op Solutions was selected as a 2024 Campus Forward Award Winner for their unwavering commitment to seeking out and hiring early career talent and investments in nurturing and retaining the next generation of diverse talent. Please see below for the highlights of their approach to early career recruitment.
Standout Candidate Experience
Co-op Solutions keeps the interview process simple and efficient by utilizing panel interviews, so interns can be considered for multiple positions while typically completing no more than 2 interviews. Their recruitment team takes the time and attention to assess candidate’s strengths and educate them on the various opportunities available to them. If a candidate doesn’t qualify for the internship they applied for, but they could be a great fit for a different internship at the company, the recruiters will have a conversation with them to point them in the right direction and set them up for success. Students really appreciate this personalized approach and the care the team has for their development before they have even joined the company.
Innovative Use of Technology
Events management and email campaign technology have been a game changer for Co-op Solutions early talent recruitment team this past year. A big part of Co-op’s strategy is to connect with candidates in person at events, clubs, and career fairs. The ability to track these conversations and remain in contact with these candidates throughout the hiring process is crucial to the success of Co-op’s recruitment strategy. Co-op also utilizes one-way recorded video interviewing in their hiring process. This technology allows the process to be more time-efficient which leads to quicker feedback for candidates. It also allows more opportunities for candidates to be considered than if this technology wasn’t utilized.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Co-op Solutions knows that a diverse workforce is crucial to the success of their organization and that starts with their early talent programs. Co-op diversifies their internship program by ensuring their qualifications are related to the position and do not create unnecessary barriers. One way that Co-op is doing this is by not requiring interns to be a current student. This allows recent graduates the opportunity to gain much-needed experience and opens the door to professionals that want to pivot and make a career change. Co-op is also known for welcoming international students into their internship program which is unfortunately a group that can struggle to find opportunities. Interns greatly benefit from the diverse perspectives brought together each year.