Website helps college grads make a job pitch
Recruiting on college campuses increased only slightly this spring compared with last, and the same share of employers — about four in 10 — expects to hire new graduates.
That’s the national college grad job outlook from CareerBuilder. com and the outplacement consultancy of Challenger Gray & Christmas.
The applicant pool is large, and it’s clear that hiring companies can be choosy.
But, perhaps surprisingly, many employers say they’re having trouble finding good hires.
Given that feedback, two entrepreneurs with Kansas City ties are trying to help make regional matches between top-drawer college graduates and employers who are hiring.
Kevin Melgaard, who earned a law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and Andy O’Dower, who earned an MBA from Rockhurst University, joined forces last year to launch a website at www.beyondcredentials.com.
It’s a website where qualified college grads can post their own pitches — including videos, Web page links and resumes — to make themselves more visible and, with luck, more appealing job candidates.
The site is free to students who have the minimum 3.0 grade point average at a so far limited number of universities.
In the startup phase, O’Dower said, they’re focusing on developing relationships between the largest universities in and around Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago and Denver and employers in those areas.
About 50 employers signed up to participate so far pay fees to publicize their jobs and gain access to student information.
“Employers in general are telling us they get too many applications, that it’s hard to wade through the applicant pile,” O’Dower said.
“We’re trying to supply a more high-touch, geographically focused access to quality candidates, at the same time giving students a way to get in front of people (employers).”
The pair has hired sales reps with job board experience to market the site to employers and are hiring “interns” on key college campuses to market the site to students.
Sponsors
