Recognized for Excellence
Iron Mountain 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
Iron Mountain’s early careers team has built an intentional, relationship-driven recruiting model grounded in strong partnerships with university career centers and transparent job communication & description. Career centers are engaged as strategic collaborators through regular check-ins, outcome sharing, and tailored outreach supported by curated newsletters on upcoming job postings. Rather than hiring at scale for volume, the team prioritizes targeted sourcing to protect quality and maintain a high-touch experience for each cohort. AI-powered tools and automation reduce administrative work, allowing recruiters to focus on meaningful candidate connections through personal outreach and conversations. Recruiting events go beyond traditional info sessions which candidates receive guidance on resume websites, recruiter expectations, and personal branding to help them stand out in a competitive market. The result is a recruiting experience that is innovative, human, and community-driven which is delivering a stronger, faster, and more connected pipeline.
Innovation in Action
Iron Mountain’s early careers team blends cutting-edge technology with hands-on candidate development through their events as they redefine modern campus hiring. The program integrates AI tools and automation, including RippleMatch, to streamline hiring and deliver offer decisions within three to four weeks, which frees time for recruiters to focus on what matters most: meaningful, intentional connection through personal messaging through text and constant updates. They aim for at least weekly communication. Recruiting events are reimagined as career accelerators, not information sessions. Students receive live coaching on resumes, tutorials on building personal resume Wix websites, and guidance on personal branding through LinkedIn to help them stand out long before interviews begin. Often in a podcast style, with the help of former interns providing their own personal tips. Highly interested candidates are identified and followed up with quickly after events to maintain momentum. Iron Mountain utilizes Ripplematch now for their communications and events to keep engaged. This approach has built a highly engaged talent community, with candidates returning to share how the experience strengthened their confidence and career readiness. By combining automation with empathy, Iron Mountain delivers a hiring model that is fast, personal, and truly candidate-first.
Excellence in Candidate Experience
Iron Mountain’s candidate experience is built on transparency, consistency, and care which comes from the first interaction through the first day on the job. Communication is frequent and intentional, with weekly updates and real-time messaging so candidates are never left wondering about their place on their climb. Hiring decisions move quickly, often within weeks, maintaining momentum and trust. Candidates stay engaged through newsletters featuring hiring managers sharing stories of interns who became full-time Mountaineers on their team, tips and tricks to build early career competencies from their early careers manager, along with insights from the Early Careers podcast and ERG led by interns and converted hires. The intention is to showcase the true community for their interns. After offer acceptance, interns attend Mountaineer Camp, which is a three-month, optional, pre-start development experience covering professional readiness, communication etiquette, and how to succeed with their manager before starting their internship program. As a result, interns arrive confident, prepared, and ready to make an impact from basecamp to summit. Through community, responsiveness, and development, Iron Mountain builds confidence long before day one.
