Campus Recruitment Forum

How strong is your campus recruitment strategy—and where should you focus next?

In this fast-paced, interactive session, you’ll explore Brainstorm’s Campus Talent Ecosystem™ framework and use the Concise Campus Talent Scorecard™ to assess your organization’s strengths and opportunities.

You’ll gain:

• A clear overview of the key components that drive successful campus recruitment and employer engagement.
• A quick self-assessment to pinpoint priority areas for improvement.
• Actionable insights and peer ideas you can take back to your team.

Whether you’re refining a mature program or building new campus connections, you’ll leave with a sharper understanding of where you stand—and practical steps to elevate your results.

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When the labour market shifts and budgets tighten, early talent programs are often the first to face scrutiny. But leading employers and career services professionals know that cutting back on student recruitment is short-sighted — and they’re getting better at telling that story.

In this candid panel discussion, our panelists will share how they each advocate for continued — or expanded — investment in student hiring. You’ll hear how campuses coach employers to stay engaged, and how employers build internal buy-in, from HR to hiring managers to the C-suite. Panelists will explore the metrics that matter, the stories that resonate, and the strategies they use to make the business case — even when unemployment is high, applicant volume is overwhelming, and business leaders are focused on cost containment.

Whether you’re an employer needing fresh ways to justify your campus program, or a campus partner trying to help recruiters maintain momentum, this session will provide practical examples, persuasive language, and proven tactics to help you turn skepticism into support.

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Getting students to show up—and stay engaged—is tougher than ever. Competing priorities, packed schedules, and shifting expectations make it challenging for employers to capture student attention. In this panel, experienced career services leaders will share front-line insights on what’s working, what’s not, and what’s next.

• What strategies are breaking through and actually drawing students in?
• What common missteps do employers make when trying to engage students?
• How can recruiters better reach and include underrepresented student populations?
• What role should the career office play—and how can employers partner more effectively with them?
• Looking ahead, what changes will shape student engagement and campus recruitment in the coming years?

For recruiters, it’s a chance to hear directly from the people closest to students about how to boost turnout and impact. For employer relations professionals and career staff, it’s an inside look at how to build stronger partnerships that drive better outcomes for everyone.

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These interactive roundtables are designed to spark in-depth conversations on the most pressing issues and emerging trends in campus recruitment. Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas, and explore practical strategies for connecting with student talent in a rapidly evolving landscape.

We'll explore topics such as:

• Attracting the right candidates
• Developing your employer brand on campus
• Hiring earlier and/or more quickly
• The Impact of AI on recruitment/selection
• Maximizing your website, social media, and other communications
• Creating impactful events/activities
• Leveraging data analytics
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives

Join us for candid, solutions-focused discussions with peers who get it.

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The career landscape has changed dramatically—and so have students’ expectations. Drawing on Brainstorm’s latest survey of 24,900+ post-secondary students across Canada, this session reveals the newest trends shaping student interests, job preferences, and decision-making.

Are you still relying on messages and tactics from 2020? Discover what truly drives today’s candidates and how their priorities have evolved in just a few short years.

You’ll leave with fresh, research-backed insights to sharpen your campus recruitment strategy and connect with the next generation of talent more effectively than ever.

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The future of talent acquisition isn’t just faster—it’s more focused, more cultural, and more candidate-centered. In this session, Jay Kipps shares exclusive insight from Canada’s largest student career preference study to help you segment your messaging, prioritize what matters most to students, and connect with the right talent—without needing a new employer brand. Learn how culture is emerging as the true differentiator, and how data and AI are transforming employer branding into a strategic function that shapes experience, not just messaging. Walk away with practical, research-backed strategies to drive campus results now—and into 2030.

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The early talent hiring landscape is shifting fast—AI, evolving student expectations, and changing workplace norms are creating new challenges and opportunities for campus recruitment. In this panel, campus recruiters and talent leaders will share candid insights into how they’re adapting strategies, engaging students, and planning for what’s next.

• What’s the biggest shift you’ve seen in student expectations or recruiter strategies?
• How do you strike a balance between efficiency and building authentic student connections?
• What do you wish more schools understood about your recruitment needs?
• What changes could lead to better outcomes for employers, schools and students?

For recruiters, it’s a chance to hear what’s working on the ground and how peers are navigating today’s realities. For employer relations professionals, it’s an inside look at what employers need from campus partners to build stronger, more effective recruitment outcomes.

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