PROBLEM

            Every year some 6,000 new students join the Warrington College of Business Administration. That means there are 6,000 more students that need to find internships before they graduate. This is because around 2009 the business school implemented a rule that for a student to graduate they need to obtain an internship or do a study abroad.

            This requirement change meant that the business school had to, in some way, assist students find internships- and so CAP Mentors were created. CAP Mentors, or career and academic peer mentors, are junior and senior business majors who have completed at least one internship. Generally, however, these students have completed multiple internships and are some of the most involved students within the college. CAP Mentors are also paid by the business school, making them part-time employees.

            The challenge is bringing in a new class of CAP Mentors every year. It’s imperative to hire the same caliber of students every year because if the students aren’t qualified for the job, then the college suffers, and fewer students are helped by the program.

            Recruitment has been done in the past, but at a bare minimum. And as the college depends more on the program for definitive results and a return on their investment, good candidates are highly sought after. Another thing to consider is that some students become mentors when they are juniors, while others become mentors as seniors. This means that there is a different target number every year.

So recruiting is a must. More people become aware of CAP Mentors every year, and last year it was found 1 in 5 business students will see a CAP Mentor before they graduate. That’s a lot of students who need help, which is why highly driven, successful students who have had internships are always targeted.  

This project aims to find new and creative ways to do recruiting come spring time. As a program we need to find highly motivated students who are approachable, have great interpersonal skills, are involved, and most importantly, who are qualified with either an internship or study abroad experience.