#54: The Inside Scoop on Job Boards & Entry-level Recruitment with Steven Rothberg

The HR Mentor

Today on the show, my guest is Steven Rothberg.

Steven is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of College Recruiter job search site. At College Recruiter, they believe that every student and recent graduate deserves a great career. Over the course of a year, College Recruiter helps seven million students and recent graduates find part-time, seasonal, internship, coop, apprenticeship, and other entry-level jobs. At any given time, there are several million jobs advertised on College Recruiter globally.

If you are a University of College student or a recent graduate, this conversation is for you! I recommend you take some notes and check out College Recruiter today. Steven and his team also have an awesome blog with lots of advice for employers and recent graduates.

In this episode, Steven and I discuss how University and College students can maximize their success in the job market and stand out as applicants. We also discuss when and how candidates should reveal if they belong to an equity-seeking group and some recent trends in diversity recruitment that job applicants should be prepared for. Finally, Steven shares what he is working on at the College recruiter and offers some sage advice through my speed questions. I think you will get a lot out of this conversation.

Summary of key points in this episode:

• Nothing is forever (except the Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup draught!) Pick a career path that is aligned with your values and strengths at the time, pursue it with passion, and expect accidents and pivots along the way.
• Students who want to secure professional roles after graduation should pursue part-time related work, internships or co-ops while they are still pursuing their studies at University.
• It is a common mistake for students to wait until graduation to begin pursuing professional roles - be the exception!
• The school you attended and your GPA are less important for employers than you believe them to be. What employers really care about is how low-risk you are as a potential employee.
• If a co-op or internship through your college or university is out of reach for whatever reason, don’t let it stop you! Create your own and be open to checking out other locations.
• Proposing remote work is also an option to consider. However, the best time to do this is before you start the process with the employer. Set up an informational interview and see if it’s an option. Most employers are set up for remote work these days and if you make a compelling case will agree to your proposal.
• An informational interview can help reduce the risk to the employer of hiring you.
• Steven recommends looking for affinities with a potential employer and the people who will be on your hiring panel. Finding a personal connection with them can help you stand out as an applicant.
• I asked Steven about how applicants can stand out when they do apply. His advice - pay attention to keywords! If the employer says “HR” in the job ad, you should say “HR” in your application; not Human Resources.
• Answer your phone if you are applying for jobs! Most employers use phone screenings as the first point of contact. And make sure your outgoing message is professional for the times when you can’t answer the phone.
• When you do get the call, make sure you listen to what the employer is asking you.
• Be prepared for possible text screening interviews. More and more organizations are incorporating “blind” screening methods to prevent bias and discrimination early in the process. Be professional and take your cues on communication from the person interviewing you through text.
• I asked Steven about his advice for candidates on when they should reveal their diversity status to an employer, specifically in a situation where they are not giving preference to candidates that represent an equity-seeking group, but rather when employers say they value and embrace diversity, equity and inclusion. His advice is to balance out the risk and the upside to determine what to say and when.
• In the labour market of today, you may be willing to assume more risk because you will want to know where the employer stands and if they don’t truly value diversity, you may want to pass on working for them.
• I loved how Steven answered my first speed question where I ask him which organization in the world he would work for. He shared three things he would look for that you may want to consider when you are preparing for your job search. Listen to the end of the episode to learn what he said!
• Yummy…Mackintosh Toffee - It was always my favourite candy bar growing up!

Helpful links from this episode:

• Visit the College Recruiter website today - https://www.collegerecruiter.com/
• Check-out Steven’s podcast - The Job Board Geek
• Connect with Steven on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrothberg/
• Read “Traction: Get a Grip On Your Business” by Gino Wickman
• Learn about how to set up an Information Interview in Episode 8: The Importance of Making Connections
• Sign up for the Newsletter to get notified of the HRCA Launch and remember your discount code HRMENTORPOD

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