3 Tips to Be Effective During Finals
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas trees on every corner, the smell of peppermint mochas wafting through the air, and the sound of all your staff hiring efforts coming to a screeching halt.
College students who were excited to talk about camp just a few weeks ago are now ‘just too busy’ to fill out their applications, schedule an interview or even return a phone call or text message. It can be frustrating to feel like we are spinning our wheels between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but here are 3 tips that will hopefully help jumpstart your holiday hiring.
1) Meet Them Where They Are – Campus Study Break
This year we are trying to put on several ‘camp study breaks’ on key campuses. Most campuses have study centers or ‘that coffee shop’ where everybody hangs out. We’re going to show up with coffee and treats and invite our staff and their friends to a study break with camp. And who knows, maybe 8 hours into cramming for their mechanical engineering final, a summer engineering internship won’t sound so great after all.
2) Send Them the Love – No Strings Attached
One of our goals this school year is to find opportunities to care for our staff, without asking for anything in return. Sometimes our relationships can start to feel a bit transactional and this is a great time to remind your staff that you’ve got their back. A few years ago we sent our whole summer staff a package with homemade cookies and it was a hit.
3) Know the Schedule
Even though December can feel like one long exam period, it’s really not. Some schools will take exams a week to ten days before other schools. Learn the schedule and act accordingly. If one campus doesn’t have exams until mid-December, reach out right now. If another takes exams early, give them a call once you know exams are over.
Happy Hiring!
John Menendez
Director, Camp Timberlake for Boys
