Partner FAQs

Quick answers to some common questions

We have compiled a list of commonly asked questions among our corporate partners. Click any of the questions below to expand the answer.

Q: As a corporate partner, who is your first point of contact at The Consortium?

A: Glenda Hibbert, Manager, Development Services. She can be contacted at 636-681-5442 (phone), 636-681-5499 (fax) or hibbertg@cgsm.org.

Q: What are talent acquisition best practices BEFORE our Orientation Program & Career Forum (OP)?

A: Customize your OP strategy to fit your company’s individual needs. This includes:

  • Having conversations with your recruiting team
  • Taking advantage of executive visits with Peter Aranda, Executive Director and CEO and/or Kimberly Alexander, Vice President, Development
  • Contacting Angel McKay, Director of Corporate Development, to establish your OP footprint.

Use Hello Fellow for resume sourcing, job postings and e-blasts. This consists of:

  • Reviewing the CGSM Student Look Book immediately after receipt. This arrives via email three weeks prior to OP.
  • Sourcing student resumes, identifying potential internship hires and experienced hires. The 1st year student resumes are uploaded to Hello Fellow mid-May, approximately three weeks prior to OP.

Have multiple touch-points with students. This can be done by:

  • Informing students of your attendance at OP and letting them know what your OP Footprint looks like.
  • Inviting students to your underwriting events. Include an RSVP date on invitations, offering alternate networking opportunities in the case of a declined invitation.
  • Establishing a ticket-distribution touch point at OP for students who have accepted your invitations.

Complete the hiring survey. This survey is emailed in mid-April to collect data on open positions. Survey data is shared prior to OP with member schools, students and alumni.

Place yourself in the student’s shoes, understanding that OP can be an overwhelming experience. Your Consortium alumni are the best resource for gathering information from a student perspective.

Q: What are talent acquisition best practices DURING OP?

A: Here are some tips:

  • Have a centralized scheduler for your on-site interviews.
  • Allow campus recruiters who interview interns to conduct your interviews. They understand where the students are in their journey.
  • Students assess a company’s commitment to diversity by how well the organization is represented. In addition to sending your diversity and college relations executives to OP, you should also:
    • Send Consortium alumni from your company to recruit and/or to represent your company. They can communicate their experiences and make an impression of your company.
    • Have senior level hiring managers in attendance.
    • Be everywhere the students are. This can be established by having a solid OP footprint. Hosting an OP gives you the ultimate exposure.
  • Always remain aware of your competition. Remember to be creative by:
    • Taking advantage of both formal and informal networking activities.
    • Attending the entire conference for more student interaction.
  • Interact with CAB members and university representatives. CAB members can share recruiting and retention best practices. University representatives can offer valuable insight about Consortium students, alumni and acceptable hiring timelines.
  • Use Hello Fellow for resume sourcing, job postings and e-blasts.

Q: What are talent acquisition best practices AFTER OP?

A: Here are some tips:
Continue the communication with students. It’s best to:

  • Follow-up with students immediately after OP.
  • Invite targeted students to your campus during the summer to familiarize them with your corporate environment.
  • Follow-up once again with students close to November, giving them time to start school.

Do not extend exploding offers (offers that are retracted if not accepted within a specific timeframe).

  • Take advantage of Regional Recruiting Receptions.
  • Corporate partners can host regional recruiting receptions targeting potential applicants to our member schools.
  • The Consortium Recruiting Team communicates the value of our fellowship program, encouraging minorities to pursue an MBA.
  • Work with Consortium Alumni Regional Representatives (CARRs) to connect with experienced hires throughout the country.

Complete the Annual Corporate Partner Assessment Survey. This survey is emailed in mid-July to measure your individual needs and gauge your overall satisfaction with The Consortium.

Leverage your campus visits. Be sure to:

  • Notify The Consortium of visits planned to our member schools.
  • Contact student liaisons to assist in arranging and scheduling your visit to encourage attendance.
  • Notify Consortium students that you’ll be on campus and invite them to meet with you. Host receptions and/or info sessions.

Be sure to attend national diversity recruiting events such as NBMBAA, NSBE, SHPE, etc. Take advantage of early access to students and continue building relationships.

Use Hello Fellow for resume sourcing, job postings and e-blasts.

Use the interns so that they can spread the word during their second year.

Remember to reuse old Look Books because they become the alumni pipeline of the future.

Q: What are the partnership levels for The Consortium?

A: Benefit levels are posted on The Consortium’s website under “Corporate Partners.”

Q: How can I schedule a corporate partner conference call or in-person strategy meeting with Peter Aranda, Executive Director and CEO, and Kimberly Alexander, Vice President Development?

A: Contact Glenda Hibbert, Manager, Development Services, at 636-681-5442 or hibbertg@cgsm.org.

Q: What is the Hiring Survey?

A: To better serve our annual OP constituents, we conduct an Annual Hiring Survey for corporate partners in April. The survey consists of 14 questions, related to your talent acquisition and recruitment efforts. Survey data allows us to:

  • determine specific hiring needs at your company
  • detail all functional areas at your company with career opportunities
  • be able to counsel, advise and guide you as it relates to your recruiting strategies

Survey data is shared with member schools, students and alumni, as it relates to internship and career opportunities at your company. Survey completion is an integral component in obtaining a positive return on investment (ROI).

Q: What is the Assessment Survey?

A: To better serve our corporate partners, we conduct an annual Corporate Partner Assessment Survey in July. The survey consists of 16 questions, related to your talent acquisition needs and overall satisfaction with The Consortium. Survey data allows us to:

  • Determine the specific needs of your company
  • Make future process improvements
  • Gauge your overall satisfaction with the partnership

Survey data is only shared internally.

Survey completion is important to ensure a mutually beneficial relationship.

Q: What channels are available through The Consortium for company exposure?

A: We can offer exposure through these channels:

  • The Consortium blog
  • The Consortium website
  • Social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram)
  • Recruiting and Development’s Program Overview
  • OP
    • Signage
    • Conference Resource Guide

Q: What is the importance of CAB membership?

A: The Corporate Advisory Board (CAB) was created in 1989. It is comprised of leaders from major corporations (corporate partners) across the country and other members of the business community. The CAB committee:

  • Acts as an advisory board to the Consortium and influences the scope of Consortium programs
  • Serves to heighten the visibility of The Consortium in the corporate community and further enhance its reputation
  • Plays a critical role in attracting the interest of highly-qualified underrepresented minorities in careers and business management
  • Provides direction, guidance and support to The Consortium on general policy matters, strategic planning, growth initiatives, fundraising and benchmarking against other diversity-related organizations
  • Makes recommendations, comments and suggestions to the Board of Trustees
  • Serves as custodians of corporate citizenship to all Consortium constituent groups

CAB membership is offered at specific corporate partnership levels. For more information on this benefit, please contact Angel McKay, Director, Corporate Development, at 636-681-5455 or mckaya@cgsm.org.

Q: What are the steps to connect an alumnus with a company?

A: Consider these steps:

  • We ask alumni to visit the corporate partners list on our website.
  • We ask alumni to visit the corporate partner’s career site.
  • If there is an opportunity of interest, the alumni should apply for the position.
  • Once the alumnus has applied, he or she should email alumni relations. The email should include the position(s) applied for. In turn, alumni relations will provide him or her with the name and email address of The Consortium contact at the company of interest.

Q: How can our company get competitive salary information?

A: Competitive salary information for each of our member schools is available by clicking here. A combined student employment report is available at certain partnership levels. Please contact Angel McKay, Director, Corporate Development, for additional information at 636-681-5455 or mckaya@cgsm.org.

Q: Who is the contact person for access to Hello Fellow or to send e-blasts?

A: Jeff Farris, Director, Database Operations, at 636-681-5452 or farrisj@cgsm.org.

Q: How long are job postings active?

A: Job postings are active for 60 days by default, but a custom expiration date may be selected.

Q: How long does it take for job postings to be approved?

A: Job postings are normally approved within one business day unless there are questions about the posting.

Q: What are the best formats for e-blasts?

A: E-blasts may be submitted as text in a Word document with your company logo attached separately. Alternatively, HTML code may be submitted.

Q: In addition to the Corporate Partner Best Practices & Hello Fellow Training webinar, is it possible to schedule individual training for Hello Fellow?

A: Yes, Hello Fellow training is available for individuals and teams. Contact Jeff Farris at 636-681-5452 or farrisj@cgsm.org to schedule a training.