IBM

For decades, employers have relied on a selection of schools as a means to “pre-qualify” student candidates. Selecting these “school partners” has allowed employers to be more targeted with their marketing dollars as well as with their time and effort.

But this approach was developed in an age where attracting and engaging students necessarily required lots of travel, many campus-specific events, and plenty of in-person interaction. Though perhaps not deliberately, it also limited the reach of employers and made many opportunities inaccessible to the majority of students.

This panel discussion will focus on a skills-based approach to student outreach that strives to reach any students with the right skills for the available opportunities. Rather than discard the schools-based approach, this approach aims to re-balance employers’ investment, broaden exposure to opportunities, and create more equitable access for students.

Join the discussion, pose your questions, and determine where your organization should be on the skills vs. schools continuum.