Connecting College and University Students with Area Businesses

GSDC is partnering with the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce to help students at St. Cloud State University secure employment during their time in college and upon graduation.  Through a partnership with Dave Harris, Dean of SCSU Business School, part time job opportunities are showcased to students on a quarterly basis through an SCSU introductory general business course.  Job openings are also being shared with students at St. Cloud Technical and Community College. This linkage allows students to learn about local employers and immediate job opportunities, as well as gain insight into local career and employment options upon graduation.  These connections serve to retain the talent found at our local colleges and universities in our region.  Employers wishing to learn more about this program can contact Gail Cruikshank at gcruikshank@greaterstcloud.com.

Use Internships as Your Competitive Advantage

 A strong intern program can provide an employer a pipeline of highly qualified candidates for future employment. Internships and other forms of experiential education introduce students to the workplace and can facilitate seamless transitions to employment.  They can help increase employer talent retention rates, complete short-term projects, and identify future hires.

GSDC has joined with regional employers, educators and community partners to bring and focused internship program, Intern Bridge, St. Cloud for a second year. On April 16th, St. Cloud State University will host Dr. Robert Shindell from Intern Bridge, a leading research and consulting firm.  The one-day presentation will share the latest, most effective approach to internships based on in-depth research and proven strategies. In this full-day, highly interactive and participatory workshop, participants will learn how to:

•      Effectively implement an amazing internship program;

•      Identify future hires with the only no-strings-attached 12-week interview;

•      Create and maintain a pipeline of highly qualified and educated full-time job candidates;

•      Increase your organizational brand awareness on college campuses;

•      And much, much more!

More information and a link to registration is at https://internbridge.com/st-cloud

This workshop has been accredited by both HRCI and SHRM-PDC and attendees can receive six (6) CEU Credits. 

R.I.N.G. IN THE NEW YEAR WITH A FRESH APPROACH TO HIRING IN 2017!

Looking for some fresh ideas to your recruiting approach for the New Year?  Try to R.I.N.G. in the New Year with these four tips on how to approach your hiring this year:

• Recruit Freelancers
• Improve Employee Flexibility
• Negotiate Shared or New Talent
• Generate appealing benefit packages and perks

To read the full JobSpot article on how to update your recruiting strategy, click here.

KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR WITH 50 PERCENT CASH MATCH ON WAGES FOR STEM INTERNS

Employers, is your company interested in hiring a STEM intern? SciTechsperience, a state-funded internship program, is currently offering to matching 50 percent of the intern’s wages (up to $2,500) for participating companies.

The SciTechsperience internship program aims to connect both small and medium-sized Minnesota businesses with college STEM students. SciTechsperience provides a low-cost solution for companies that may not otherwise have access to qualified interns. The internships benefit both the employers and the students by helping employers develop solutions to challenges and providing hands-on learning experience opportunities for students.

There are currently 248 matching grants remaining for 2016-2017. Matching grants are allocated on a first come, first hire basis.

To learn more about whether your company is eligible to receive a matching grant or to apply, click here.

For more information, please contact Becky Siekmeier at beckys@mhta.org or call 952-230-4241.