Prospective hires have always asked Shawn Harter about salary, advancement opportunities and job security during their interviews. But Harter, director of recruiting at Arthur Andersen’s Cleveland office, recently began hearing a new question raised by college students: What does your company do for the community?
It was an eye-opener, he says, because the global professional services organization recruits 70 percent of its work force directly from college, and recruiters often make contact with students as early as their sophomore year to build relationships and learn what makes them tick.
Although experts have already warned business owners that the younger generation is adamant about balancing work and their personal lives, this commitment to community service was a new and unexpected twist.
As younger workers shop for companies that best fit their personalities and beliefs, Harter expects the question of community service is one many business owners will eventually have to face.
“In today’s work environment, the balance of life priorities has much more importance,” Harter says. “I think this is another part of it.”
Although the company and its employees were already involved with community service work on a city-by-city basis, executives decided to put together a more organized — and higher profile — philanthropy program to stay ahead of this emerging trend. As a result, Arthur Andersen employees in 13 cities picked up hammers earlier this summer and went out to contribute to Habitat for Humanity’s quest to build affordable new housing.
Interns and job candidates were also invited to pitch in, giving them a chance to network with Arthur Andersen veterans in a more relaxed, albeit more physically taxing, environment.
Arthur Andersen’s discovery is supported by other evidence, which shows that many of today’s college graduates feel a responsibility to give back to the community and are attracted to companies that do the same.
Recent research by Rainmaker Thinking Inc., the leading consulting firm on the attitudes of Americans born between 1963 and 1981, observed community-minded values in thousands of young people during a five-year interview process. The New Haven, Conn., research firm identified a common results-focused mentality that draws people toward companies that are active in the community.
There is also a growing popularity of the Graduation Pledge Alliance, which encourages students to make socially and environmentally responsible career choices. The program was started at Humboldt State University in California 10 years ago, but has gone more mainstream.
The program is now based at Manchester College in Indiana, where 50 to 60 percent of graduates took the pledge last year. The movement has spread to more than 30 campuses nationwide.
Harter says the Arthur Andersen program was a hit with employees and prospects, and enthusiasm among employees was built and sustained through frequent e-mail messages, keeping all workers up-to-date about the project.
“This was a great team-building exercise,” he says. “Candidates got a chance to meet the people who have been here for 15 or 20 years and see that they are no different than themselves.” How to reach: Arthur Andersen, www.arthurandersen.com; Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, (216) 429-1299
Jim Vickers is an associate editor at SBN.