.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=logo}
The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Southwest Airlines 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
Southwest Airlines knows that creating pipelines of future talent is an essential part of its winning culture and future successes. Southwest College Interns gain business experience in their field while participating in Southwest’s world-famous culture. Southwest is home to some of the country’s most sought-after internships year after year, and the company’s commitment to entry-level talent continues to grow. Southwest has expanded its early careers programs both by growing the existing opportunities and adding new ones, opening up this exceptional opportunity to more and more students.
Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruitment
The Campus Reach Team at Southwest Airlines is continuously testing new ways to reach students and share opportunities. The Team plans a variety of events across their wide network to connect with talented students. These events include a series of in-person and virtual engagements at colleges and universities across the country. The workshops focus on topics like resume crafting, interview preparation, deep dives into LinkedIn and personal branding, internship & full-time information sessions, and career fairs. Southwest is committed to representing the diverse communities it serves in its workforce, and the Campus Reach Team is no different. The Team visits many HBCUs and HSIs to ensure Southwest cultivates diverse talent pipelines.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Southwest Airlines is proud to serve over 120 different markets across seven different countries, giving the company exposure to many different backgrounds and identities. Southwest knows to be successful, it must employ individuals who can represent those diverse communities. Starting at an early age, the Campus Reach Team empowers K-12 students to see where the students could take their careers if they worked for Southwest Airlines. Whenever the Campus Reach Team starts work with a new group of students, the Team finds mentors who will be able to connect with the students, and who’ll share their lived experiences. The Campus Reach Team spearheads authentic advocacy, support, and buy-in from all employees, working to make sure diversity is at the forefront of all we do. Southwest continues to expand its reach by creating new partnerships with minority-serving institutions, non-profits, and relevant conferences around its network. Southwest Airlines also partners with organizations like Paul Quinn College Corporate Work Force Program, promoting black excellence with little to no college debt.
Impactful Internship Program
Southwest Airlines interns are entrusted with projects that leave a lasting-impact on the company and contribute to their professional growth. Outside of their work responsibilities, interns are invited to attend a series of events focused on showcasing Southwest’s vibrant culture, planned by the Campus Reach Team. While always fun, these events also promote professional development for interns, such as opportunities like the Clifton Strengths assessment and discovery class, Senior Leader speaker series, and a community service project. Interns also have free space-available travel privileges on Southwest Airlines, which can be used to explore Southwest’s destinations outside of working hours.
Growth and Development of the Next Generation of Talent
Southwest Airlines University partners with each department that hires an intern to create a fun and thorough onboarding and training process. Once onboard, new hires and interns are supported through a variety of programs and encouraged to take advantage of opportunities like “Days in the Field”, where any employee can spend a day shadowing someone from another department. This helps to facilitate internal movement, and gives great insight into every career at Southwest. Additionally, through the Direct College Hire program, Southwest Airlines provides mentorship, culture events, and professional development for entry-level hires over the first few years of employment. Southwest also offers various opportunities to all employees, including formal mentorship programs and Career Mobility counselors to support employee’s growth throughout their career. The Career Mobility Team works with employees from around the Southwest network on areas like interview preparation, resume review ,and career planning.