4 Things Businesses Should Know About Student Groups

Partnering with student organizations can make a significant impact on the student body, but there are a few things to know before sealing the deal.

There are hundreds of student organizations in Canada but very little content on how they operate and the value they provide.

This article aims to share some knowledge on the subject.

1. Most executives in student organizations are not paid. The reasons for why students volunteer their time to participate in student life are for the experience, personal growth, and to give back to the school. This is important to know because if you understand the motivations behind the executives you will be able to create a better working relationship.
2. All student groups have a different purpose and structure. It is important to know their mission and what they stand for before deciding to work together to ensure a smooth partnership.
3. Executive teams change every year. Most individuals only do a 1-year mandate, then it’s new individuals that come in. This means that the experience levels and output quality may vary year over year. That is why it is important to establish a strong sense of trust to ensure information is being shared properly. This means having an honest conversation with the student leaders about what each party can bring to the table and how both parties can help each other fill the gaps.
4. Student groups, on average, provide more opportunities for companies to meet and interact with students than the educational institutions. They organize conferences and workshops for students to learn skills generally not taught in class. They also host networking events for students to meet industry professionals and recruiters. All at an affordable ticket price for students. The result of this is a well-rounded student body with a more diverse skillset.

I believe there is tremendous value companies can gain from partnering with student groups.

The purpose of this article is to ensure businesses are entering the conversation with a basic understanding, for all parties to feel they can be honest about potential obstacles, and discuss how to navigate them. After all, both sides just want to help the students, their school and the community!

Originally published at https://medium.com on July 25, 2019.