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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Santander US was selected as a 2023 Campus Forward Award Winner for their unwavering commitment to seeking out and hiring early career talent, their emphasis on diversity & inclusion, and investments in nurturing and retaining the next generation of talent. Please see below for the highlights of their approach to early career recruitment.
Demonstrated Investment in Early Career Hiring
Santander is committed to investing in and nurturing the next generation of talent, as it is an investment in the future of the company. This year, the company’s competitive program, which hired 102 interns out of 3,500 applicants, welcomed its most diverse cohort in the company’s history. Interns represented 58 colleges and universities, and hailed from more than 10 countries across the globe. Ultimately, the goal is to place students in jobs at the end of the program. For both 2021 and 22022, Santander extended job offers to 77% of the intern class at the culmination of the program.
Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruitment
The Campus Recruitment team at Santander connects with a diverse audience of students across a number of colleges and universities, utilizing in-person and virtual events to meet them where they are most comfortable and at times when they are available. The team hosts several school-agnostic, virtual information sessions where students can learn about the program and hear directly from employees in business units where they might apply, and from members of the organization’s Business Resource Groups. The team utilizes Handshake to connect with students, answer questions, and provide valuable interview prep and tips for candidates who enter the pipeline.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
This year, Santander welcomed its most diverse intern class in the company’s history, with more than 40% of interns identifying as members of underrepresented groups, hailing from more than 10 countries. As a global company, Santander’s strength comes from the diversity of ideas and experience that employees across its international footprint bring to the table. From their earliest days at Santander, interns have the opportunity to get involved in the company’s seven Business Resource Groups as members. Santander is proud to be in the top quartile of the financial industry for DE&I engagement scores based on the feedback received from employees, and will continue to build on this strength through campus recruitment efforts.
Impactful Internship Program
Santander’s internship program is designed to introduce interns to the company’s culture and help students kick-start their career through a mix of remote and hybrid opportunities. Interns are given the training and support to thrive within their position through weekly learning and development sessions, engagement with C-suite level leadership, and regular coffee chats where interns can connect with one another and the Campus Recruitment team. Alongside company leaders, interns get the opportunity to work on high-profile projects that make an impact on the organization’s strategic goals and create meaningful professional experiences for students.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Santander offers a number of programs to help set up early career talent for long-term success. Through Santander’s buddy program, all new employees are connected with a knowledgeable, tenured colleague to help them navigate life at Santander, with no formal timeframe or end date for the relationship. Santander continues to help early career talent prosper through formal mentorship programs, individualized development plans, and specialized Santander programs, like Young Leaders, which helps the next generation of Santander Leaders develop the skills necessary for further advancement.