for Universities
The Foundation for Strong Employer Partnerships
As career centers increasingly rely on employer partnerships to support vital campus programs, the need for resilient, lasting relationships with employers has become essential. This guide outlines key strategies for creating partnerships that benefit students, career centers, and employers alike—ensuring support that endures through changing times.
For career centers, employer partnerships do more than just bring in revenue—they enrich the campus experience, fund critical resources, and open doors for students’ future careers. As needs evolve, these connections become invaluable, supporting everything from tech systems and part-time staff to scholarships and hands-on student experiences. By adopting a strategic approach to employer relationships, career centers can build partnerships that deliver lasting value and adaptability.
Here are three proven strategies to create resilient employer partnerships that support the goals of career centers, employers, and students alike.
1. Build a Comprehensive Employer Scorecard
Many career centers gauge employer engagement primarily by recruitment numbers. But this focus can overlook other valuable contributions, such as research funding, alumni support, and sponsorships for student projects. A comprehensive employer scorecard provides a complete picture of each employer’s impact on campus, integrating contributions across departments like research, alumni, and athletics.
This holistic approach highlights the broad ROI employers receive from their campus involvement, reinforcing their commitment to the partnership. A comprehensive scorecard serves as a valuable tool to remind employers of the mutual benefits, building a strong foundation that can endure periods of change or economic shifts.
2. Engage Alumni Ambassadors
Alumni are powerful champions for employer partnerships. Through collaboration with the alumni office, career centers can create events and networking opportunities that deepen alumni connections and enrich the employer relationship. Events like career panels, company-hosted alumni gatherings, and industry tours with faculty provide a platform for alumni to share experiences, fostering pride and engagement.
Tracking alumni presence at key employers, especially those in senior roles, strengthens these partnerships further. Alumni advocates bring credibility and encourage ongoing engagement, while their insights add depth to the partnership—creating connections that go beyond recruitment alone.
3. Secure Multi-Year Commitments
Many career centers offer standard sponsorship packages that may feel one-size-fits-all. Instead, centers can tailor multi-year engagement opportunities that align with each employer’s specific goals, whether focused on branding, faculty access, or recruitment.
Customized, multi-year partnerships provide a flexible approach that benefits both the career center and employer, ensuring continuity and reducing year-over-year fluctuations. A tailored strategy aligns engagement options with employer needs, building a strong, long-lasting relationship that adapts to change and supports both parties’ goals.
Build Lasting Partnerships with 12twenty’s Tools
12twenty’s reporting tools can help your center develop comprehensive employer scorecards, boost alumni engagement, and create meaningful, long-term partnerships. Schedule a demo today to explore sustainable strategies for building high-impact employer relationships.
