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The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
Southwest Airlines 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
The Campus Reach team at Southwest Airlines is continuously strategizing new ways to reach students and share opportunities. The team plans a variety of events to connect with talent and offer professional development to students. These events include a series of in-person and virtual engagements at schools across the country including resume and interview workshops, LinkedIn and personal branding sessions, information sessions and career fairs. The colleges that Southwest visits includes various HBCUs and HSIs in efforts to diversify their talent pipelines.
Overarching Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Southwest Airlines understands how impactful it is to see the representation of someone that holds the same personal identities that you may have. The company believes it starts young, starting outreach and support for K-12 students. Southwest wants to help plant seeds of hope by empowering students so that they too can do it. And find mentors that share their same lived experiences. Southwest spearheads authentic advocacy, support, and buy in from all Co-Hearts making sure diversity is at the forefront of all they do. Southwest continues to expand their reach by creating new partnerships with minority serving institutions, Non-profits, and conferences. Partnering with organizations like Paul Quin College Corporate Work Force Program, promoting Black excellence with little to no college debt. Holding themselves accountable by making sure leadership looks like the diverse and beautiful world. An active and involved employee-led group volunteering to reach out and support new employees. Southwest Airlines makes sure we all lead with heart.
Impactful Internship Program
At Southwest Airlines, interns are entrusted with projects that leave a lasting impact on the company and contribute to their professional growth. Additionally, the Campus reach team plans a series of events for the interns to show them the Southwest culture and develop their careers. The interns have the opportunity to take the Clifton Strengths assessment and discovery class. Additionally interns attend a senior leader speaker series, various professional development sessions, both intern-specific and company-wide culture events, and complete a service project. These events allow the interns to experience Southwest’s winning culture, network with other interns and full time employees, and grow in their career. Interns also have free travel privileges on Southwest Airlines which can be used to explore Southwest’s destinations while not within working hours.