Advanced University Recruiting, Duolingo's Renee Davis

Published: Oct. 14, 2021, 10:33 p.m.

Today I\u2019m joined by Renee Davis, Duolingo\u2019s Director of Recruiting. In this episode, we address the issues with the old method of targeting a specific subset of students, and how to stay up to date with each new generation. We dive into how to improve the graduation numbers of underrepresented student populations, and debate the merits of recruiting through TikTok! Renee\u2019s belief that a recruitment program is about what the students can gain from it has already proven its worth, with seven out of eight interns accepting their offers to come back to work, and she takes me through how she managed this impressive feat. From virtual yoga to why three-year recruitment plans are ideal, join me in a lively discussion about changing the way we find talent.\xa0

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Key Points From This Episode:

  • An introduction to Renee Davis, the driving force behind Duolingo\u2019s modern recruiting operation.
  • Why recruiting is about more than just meeting hiring goals.
  • Tackling problems in university recruiting to impact students' lives.
  • The challenges and rewards of going virtual.
  • Using virtual events to improve outreach.
  • What platforms you can use to improve your recruitment programs.
  • How to ensure there is value for the students and not just the recruiters.\xa0
  • The Duolingo Thrive Program: building a sense of belonging in underrepresented students.

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Tweetables:

\u201cWhoever you\u2019re talking to, it's all about making sure there\u2019s value for them.\u201d \u2014 Renee Davis [0:14:32]

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\u201cWe are only as good as the students who are in the programs and are graduating with the degrees.\u201d \u2014 Renee Davis [0:17:30]

\u201cThe long view is getting the problem at root and trying to solve it over time versus constantly trying to build a solution at top of funnel for just in time hiring.\u201d \u2014 Renee Davis [0:24:02]

Links Mentioned in Today\u2019s Episode:

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Renee Davis on LinkedIn

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