How to Attract Top Computer Science School Graduates to Your Company

Today’s top computer science graduates really have their pick of employers, many who will literally wine and dine them with recruiting efforts akin to enticing top collegiate athletes to come join their team.

There are a lot of reasons for this, but a big one is numbers – according to Fool, there were 146,000 computer science grads in 2014, and about 77,000 available jobs.

GeekWire said by 2020, there is expected to be more than 1 million more jobs than students. Available jobs in computer fields are growing at twice the national rate, and computer science is one of the fastest growing majors at most four-year schools.

With starting wages ranging from $60,000 and up for software developers, grads can be choosy, especially ones from top schools. So if you want them to come work for you, you need to offer them something special, or better yet, find ways to fuel their demand to want to work with you.

Be located near a top school.

With a promise of big money and other incentives, a student could go anywhere. But they may also be interested in staying locally if there are some decent opportunities — they don’t have to move and may be able to start work while still in school. Many University of Washington students, for instance, may end up at Microsoft, Amazon or some other Seattle-based tech firms. The same is true for Georgia Tech grads who may have their pick of Atlanta tech firms. If you don’t want to relocate your entire business, consider possibly opening a remote office in a high-tech community, which also could help you establish relationships with vendors or partners in those regions.

Avoid print.

If you want a computer science grad to come work for you, forget putting a clever listing in the local paper’s want ads, since today’s computer science grads may equate dead-tree media as a dead end.

Don’t wait until graduation to start recruiting.

Traditional students at top computer science programs may officially enter the workforce after spring commencement, but the serious ones have been working on their networking for job placement or internships for the last few quarters, if not years. Georgia Tech’s College of Computing even holds fall and winter career fairs, and students are given all sorts of pointers in job search etiquette and general professionalism. So the top students may already have made a commitment early on.

Become part of a department advisory group.

Instructors are always interested in their students learning “real world” perspectives, so there’s always a need for speakers, guest instructors or even community members who can help with projects or offer advice on curriculum. This could give you a chance to meet students, for them to learn about you and your company, and help you be familiar with their school’s process.

Create a mentoring program.

If you’ve had good luck with someone you hired from a particular school, you can use him or her in your recruiting efforts for other students from the same program.

Consider female applicants.

Though you can’t legally seek women-only candidates, you can certainly present your company as an inclusive place that welcomes employees of every gender. Women may be interested in working at a place that already has brought in other candidates – along with working on cool projects.

Overall, there are some great ways to make your business look attractive to new computer science grads from top schools – besides throwing a lot of money at them, which every other serious employer will be trying.