Brainstorm Strategy Group has taken a look at some of the great ideas that came from our recent Employer Engagement Academy (EEA) discussion boards from both Canada and the USA and are bringing you 5 (practically) no-cost, high-value actions that you can take to build a stronger relationship with your employer partners.
#1: Take a more consultative selling approach with employers
Take a more consultative selling approach with employers by developing authentic and meaningful connections that are less transactional and focused more on helping them solve problems. Remember that not all interactions with employers include an ask (unless it’s asking them how you can provide support). You’ll be better positioned to find solutions by actively listening to an employer’s issues, problems and concerns. Consider setting up a “discovery call” with an employer to gain insights into their goals, challenges, and expectations.
#2: Track and share student feedback
Positive feedback is always great to hear but sometimes the biggest gift you can give an employer is constructive feedback that can improve both the student experience and the employer’s branding, recruitment and retention strategies.
#3: Show employers that you are “in it” with them
Share data that reflects the employer’s recruitment efforts such as the number of clicks to their job postings. Reach out to them to find out if they are seeing the job applications they anticipated. This is an opportunity to get out in front of a potential problem and work together to find a solution before the employer walks away.
#4: Don’t underestimate how much you know about your students
Consider creating an employer resource guide to share information about your students’ interests, preferences, behaviors, and demographics. Be sure to include the skills students are building through their programs of study. Share what students are responding to and highlight unique opportunities for employer partners to connect with your students.
#5: Recognize and employer’s contributions to student success
Recognize an employer’s accomplishments, individual engagement efforts, and contributions to student success. There are a number of ways you can create the recognition that an employer partner can use to leverage their own career such as featuring them in a newsletter or campus publication, endorsing their skills on LinkedIn, awarding digital badges that they can display on social media and their company’s website, or hosting an appreciation event.
Helping employers feel valued, appreciated, and respected will ALWAYS strengthen your relationship and might even boost their recruitment efforts!
To learn more about building better partnerships, join us for the only micro-credential for post-secondary employer relations professionals, Employer Engagement Academy.
