Building an Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruiting

During the second year of a global pandemic, the Early Talent Recruiting Team at Fisher Investments sharpened their strategy to engage students in a hybrid environment. The team crafted a “student-first” approach with events, virtual panels, student forums and skills-workshops to drive meaningful connections with students. The team strategically collaborated with business units and Talent Acquisition to find new ways to recruit. They diversified their approach by executing segmented digital campaigns. As a result, they met all of Fisher’s aggressive hiring goals and set a new standard for student engagement in person and virtually. They launched a multifaceted approach with sourcing to reach a larger pool of early talent. They also took huge strides to return to campus events, which resulted in an uptick in early acceptances. The team serves as an advocate for early talent and successfully showcased their impact on the firm’s growth through achieving historic hiring goals.

Crafting a Standout Candidate Experience

The Early Talent Recruiting Team focuses on creating an excellent candidate experience for students. For many, this is the first step in their career journey and Fisher is passionate about bridging that gap. One of the ways the team creates a world-class experience is by relying on a multi-touch approach to candidate communication. The team is dedicated to acting as a resource on campus and digitally on student platforms. The team constantly responds to student questions and holds candidate calls for those who desire to learn more. Each year, the Fisher team also carefully curates a list of Campus Ambassadors who go through intensive training to prepare for campus events. These Campus Ambassadors act as representatives for the business and the teams that are hiring. From the first communication to offer extension and onboarding, a communication strategy is in place with the candidate to ensure support from multiple Fisher teams.

Moving the Needle on Diversity & Inclusion

Fisher Investments is dedicated to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where employees can grow, thrive and do their best work. The Early Talent Team places intentional focus on recruiting candidates from all backgrounds and skillsets. The team championed several initiatives in 2021 including relationships with D&I Alliances, and further integration with diverse student organizations. The team also launched campaigns to engage students from HBCU’s, AAPI’s, HSI’s and women’s colleges promoting jobs and events. Fisher offers a scholarship bi-annually and encourages applicants from all backgrounds, including those typically underrepresented in business and finance. Fisher held its first virtual Women’s Student Forum where students across the country participated in workshops, engaged with firm leaders, and presented a case study challenge. Fisher employees have the opportunity to celebrate, join affinity groups (employee resource groups) tests, and participate in D&I training.