Boosting student engagement with your early talent campaign

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6th June 2023

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2 minutes

Early Talent Engagement Two Students at Library Computer

It can be hard to craft an attractive offering aimed at Gen-Z, in particular under-18s who consume considerable amounts of content daily; interests change quickly, and their preferred channels almost as often.  

What is resonating with young people right now? 

It’s important to craft messaging that is engaging, relevant, and speaks to their interests and aspirations. Most recent studies show the following three themes are resonating most with Gen-Z  (those born between 1997 and 2012) right now: Authenticity, Individuality and Social Responsibility. 

According to Deloitte, 69% of Gen Z respondents believed that businesses should be more involved in addressing societal issues. Another study by C Space found that 77% of Gen Z respondents said that they value authenticity in the brands they engage with.  

Building these themes into your marketing and messaging can help your campaign stand-out against others, and we highly recommend reviewing data on demographic trends before you build your campaign to help keep your messaging and methods up-to-date and impactful.  

Social media, but which one? 

Both Millennials and Gen-Z are accustomed to the instant gratification received using mobile apps and instant messaging, as well as receiving a highly targeted, and personalised experience. Using online channels and social media is one of the best ways to reach young people, for example, YouTube is used by 94% of 12-15 year olds, and TikTok is used by 50% (Statista). Our own research with young talent using Connectr found that getting notifications and updates by text instead of email is being requested more and more.  

Through a dedicated portal, Connectr customers get access to the latest research, social media stats and insights like this for a range of audiences. We provide customers with real-world examples, and best practices to help them craft effective early talent campaigns. 

Partnering with schools and colleges 

Partnering with schools can also be a really effective way to promote early talent opportunities to students directly, allowing for more interactive and in-person touch points. Here are some ways to do this: 

  1. Offer educational programs and workshops 
  1. Sponsor school events and activities 
  1. Attend career fairs and other school events  

When partnering with schools, it’s important to establish clear communication channels and build strong relationships with school administrators, teachers, and counsellors. Our school partnership experts help employers to create these relationships by leveraging our student network and existing teacher partnerships.  

Find out how Connectr can help you to become a more attractive place to work for incoming Gen Z talent  Get in touch!