Campus Forward Award Winner:
Synchrony
About Synchrony
COMPANY SIZE:
Publicly Traded Large Enterprise (1000+ employees)
INDUSTRY:
Financial, Business, & IT Services
The Pillars of an Award-Winning Program
The Highlights of Synchrony's Approach to Early Career Hiring
Building an Innovative and Multi-Faceted Approach to University Recruiting
Synchrony’s approach to recruitment is to engage rather than present when connecting with students. In adopting a virtual recruitment model, Synchrony structured its sessions with student organizations in an interactive small group format to allow students to get to know its representatives. Sessions were focused on the students’ career interests as they relate to Synchrony’s programs and career experiences. To further engage with Synchrony, QR Codes for students to submit their information were utilized to be connected with a representative for a future conversation. Panel events and career talks with leadership were also offered to students to build connections with Synchrony's people.
Crafting a Standout Candidate Experience
The University Relations Team at Synchrony strives to provide an inclusive and positive experience for each student that engages with the organization. What sets Synchrony apart is its commitment to getting to know each candidate’s unique skill set and career aspirations. The team ensures the recruitment process is not only positive but also a learning experience to help students further develop their interviewing skills by providing resume critiques, interview guides, coaching sessions, and feedback. All students that receive an offer are also assigned a Buddy to discuss his or her Synchrony journey and address any questions to ensure they are making the best choice for their future.
Moving the Needle on Diversity & Inclusion
Synchrony has committed a $50 million investment to Education as an Equalizer, an initiative to expand access to higher education, skills training in high-growth fields, and financial literacy for underserved communities and its own workforce. This initiative provides scholarships, mentorships, and internships to help low-income and underrepresented students graduate college and navigate their future paths. Synchrony’s recruitment initiatives include relationships with HBCUs, HSIs, and national partnerships such as NABA, ALPFA, Out4Undergrad, and DisabilityIn.
Investing in Impactful Internship Programs
The Synchrony Internship Program provides real-world challenging projects for students to roll up their sleeves and make an impact. From day 1 interns are a part of the Synchrony family. Students are assigned a Mentor and Buddy to provide training, guidance, and support throughout the program. Outside of work, students are encouraged to join Synchrony’s Diversity Networks, attend social engagements, and connect with Senior Leadership. With over a 90% return offer acceptance rate, the experience and culture of Synchrony set the company apart from its competitors.
Supporting the Growth and Development of Entry-Level Talent
Synchrony’s Business Leadership Program for new grads is a two-year rotational program offering students the opportunity to learn and explore as they begin their career. After a 1-week orientation, hires are immersed in their function, learning from their peers while they take on challenging projects. After year 1, hires are moved into two unique 6-month roles to sharpen their skills and expertise. Throughout the program, hires receive cross-functional training, mentorship, and a 1-month sabbatical to focus on a community service project. This program is designed to develop future leaders of Synchrony to drive innovation and challenge the status quo.
Congratulations to the team at Synchrony for being selected as one of the winners of RippleMatch's 2022 Campus Forward Awards!
RippleMatch's Campus Forward Awards recognizes the top early career teams and programs in the nation. Through a detailed application process, early career teams shared their approach to recruitment, candidate experience, D&I, and internship & entry-level programming. The programs picked for this award represent the best of the best, selected from applications submitted by campus recruiting teams across industries.
See all Award Winners for the category of Small Early Career Programs below
Learn more about RippleMatch, the company behind the Campus Forward Awards, by clicking here.