Building an Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruiting

Over the last year of virtual sourcing and recruiting, Redfin’s recruiting team has focused on building new relationships with campus and student groups across the country and meeting them where they were already virtually gathering. Redfin participated in over 50 events ranging from virtual student fairs, information sessions, conferences, and panel sessions. Redfin also relies heavily on social media for recruiting, often featuring Redfin employees and their personal stories about why they chose their career path and how they got there. Redfin recruiters also have strong personal LinkedIn presences, which helps candidates feel like they actually know someone who can help guide them through the recruiting process and be a resource for them.

Crafting a Standout Candidate Experience

Redfin recruiting embraces a variety of tactics to create a positive candidate experience. Early career candidates go through a recruiting open house, where they have the opportunity to meet several recruiters and hiring managers and learn more about potential roles. Once candidates have expressed interest in specific roles, they are assigned to one recruiter who personalizes the candidate’s experience by consistently checking in, asking for feedback, and advocating for their needs throughout the recruiting process. Redfin also takes steps to remove bias from the recruiting process, including removing personally identifiable information (i.e. names, pictures, school) from any coding or homework assignments so that candidates are assessed only by their abilities. 

Moving the Needle on Diversity & Inclusion

Redfin is dedicated to a culture of diversity and inclusion across the organization, beginning with how they connect with early career talent. Redfin’s Emerging Talent recruiting team participates in diversity conferences like GHC, NSBE, and SHPE and develops relationships with HBCUs and other underrepresented student groups. Redfin hosts workshops for these groups on topics that are specifically designed to help them with Redfin’s recruiting journey, such as “How to Ace the Coding Interview” and “How to Buy Real Estate”. It also hosts mock interviews and provides mentorship opportunities for candidates who want to connect with current Redfin employees. In addition to recruitment, Redfin supports employees with underrepresented backgrounds through Redfin inclusive groups. These groups connect via Slack and often host events for members to meet and connect. They also host company-wide events to help educate colleagues and foster discussion on how Redfin can promote diversity and inclusion in the real estate industry.