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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Pinterest 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.
Multi-Faceted and Thoughtful Approach to University Recruitment
At Pinterest, the small but mighty University Recruiting team incorporated three components in their strategy. The team sourced candidates during Spring and cultivated a diverse pipeline of candidates earlier than usual. They hosted a three-part preparatory event series titled "Pin It To Win", which equipped participants for the interview process and expanded the candidate pipeline. Thirdly, they focused on seven core universities (including HBCUs and HSIs) that led to valuable engagement via smaller, intimate events. Executing so early enabled the team to establish bonds and by the time roles were posted, candidates were eager to apply. The team continues to prioritize diversity, candidate experience, and advocates for candidates every step of the way.
Standout Candidate Experience
Candidate experience is always top of mind for Pinterest's University Recruiting team. It starts with a streamlined career site and simplified application process. The team is highly responsive and actively engaged with candidates, even before they apply, while the interview process is fine-tuned each season. For instance, this year, the team revamped interview questions and re-trained engineers to deliver a better hiring experience for students. Despite the high volume of applicants, phone screens are conducted in a thorough and transparent manner. Candidate experience is further enhanced via manager/mentor intro calls as well as regular check-ins after candidates accept an offer. To go above and beyond, swag is shipped when candidates formally accept. The high acceptance rates and low renege rates speak to the candidate experience, though the team actively strives to improve on all levels.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Pinterest’s commitment to inclusion and diversity is as strong as ever and the University Recruiting team plays a key role in increasing representation at the company. To recruit a diverse slate of candidates, the team has established connections with student groups at specific core schools that include HBCUs and HSIs. These connections paired with school-agnostic sourcing enabled the team to increase applicant diversity. Hosting preparatory events and smaller student group events has also led to positive results. The team also runs Engage, an early ID program for underrepresented sophomores to equip them for future roles in Tech. With several Employer Resource Groups, the team also has the luxury of introducing underrepresented students to the respective leaders within those groups. Overall, the team views diversity as vital to the existence, success and the sustainability of the larger business.