Cramming for exams, getting top grades and finally making it to graduation is a daunting challenge. But for many recent college grads, the bigger challenge is finding a professional network, landing a job and beginning a successful career. How do you find a job with a company you admire when you have zero connections? How do you know which companies will appreciate a diverse background?
Western & Southern has partnered with hellohive, a virtual recruiting platform, to solve that problem.
Byron Slosar is the CEO and founder of hellohive. “I’m proud to lead a company bridging the gap in access to careers for many talented students while providing employers with access to a more diverse workforce. Our focus has resulted in a unique community of students with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
“Thirty-five percent of our students are first-generation college attendees and 63% identify as being part of a racial or ethnic minority group, the LGBTQ+ community, an immigrant or from a low-socioeconomic background.”
A Powerful Partnership
Thanks to Western & Southern’s involvement with The Equity Collective, a collaboration between wealth and asset management firms to bring the next generation of diverse leaders into the industry, Western & Southern has made finding diverse talent a priority.
“Hive’s platform helps us connect with extraordinary talent from a wide range of backgrounds, which is important to us as we grow our business and continue to cultivate the ideal place to build a career at Western & Southern,” says Bonnie Wathen, director of talent acquisition.
It’s a win for recent college graduates and companies looking for diverse employees.
“Byron and all of the team members at Hive are wonderful to work with,” Wathen says. “They’re extremely engaged, helpful and responsive. As the leader of our talent acquisition efforts, I felt that establishing a strong relationship with them was important as we strive to welcome bright and talented candidates with diverse backgrounds and interests to our family of companies.”
Hive’s mission is to increase diversity in the next generation, improve recruiting for both candidates and companies, and engage candidates earlier with programs and events that introduce students to potential careers. It’s already had explosive growth, with over 22,000 students and recent graduates involved.
“Our partnership with Western & Southern and The Equity Collective has played a crucial role in supporting our mission,” Slosar says. “By organizing events that bring together Hive’s diverse student community and top companies, the partnership has created opportunities for students to showcase their unique backgrounds and experiences.”
Hive organizes mentorship programs, training, seminars and more to expose students to career opportunities. More is coming in 2023, including working with Western & Southern on a region-specific approach to discovering talent and engaging with Cincinnati students.
With the help of partner companies like Western & Southern, doors are opening for students from all backgrounds to advance their careers and access valuable resources.
“It’s really about understanding who you are and selecting a company based on that understanding,” says Slosar.
Can hellohive help your student find the right career? Visit hellohive.com to learn more. For information about Western & Southern, visit westernsouthern.com.