Rockford Area Employers
Eliminate Brain Drain — Hire Education
Studies show many next generation professionals are leaving the Rockford Area or not returning to the area after college due to a perceived lack of opportunity, both professionally and socially.
The result is a phenomenon called “brain drain.”
In the Rockford Region, only 20% of the current population over age 25 has a college degree (well below the national average of 27%). This higher education deficit has a direct impact on the region’s wealth. A recent study for the Federal Reserve Bank on the economic value of education illustrates the impact on the Rockford Region. If we were at the national average of 27% four-year degrees, we would have over $2 Billion more in Gross Metropolitan Product, which is 15% more wealth annually. (Source: www.rockfordil.com)
Hire Education: The Rockford Area Career Clearinghouse (RACC) has been established to connect Rockford Area employers with Rockford Area graduates to help attract and retain our educated, young professionals. The RACC exists to encourage area companies to hire recent college graduates for their first professional employment position, identify and place recent graduates into regional jobs, create and coordinate internships and apprenticeships among regional employers and college students, and ensure student’s resumes and job preparation skills meet employers’ needs.
Benefits of Internships
Ten benefits of hiring an intern for my company or organization
1. Reduce recruiting costs
Interns offer a highly motivated and skilled labor force to draw from by filling your talent pipeline.
2. Complete project work
Projects which have been put off because your staff does not have the time to complete them are perfect for interns. Interns are motivated to produce quality work. They are developing their professional skills and experience and want to make positive contributions to your organization.
3. Increase your organization’s productivity
Interns accomplish significant amounts of quality work with their time given, therefore freeing up staff to focus on other tasks.
4. Test a potential employee before making a commitment to hire
You already know the quality of work and the talents and skills of an intern and know if they are a good candidate for employment.
5. Begin training a potential future employee
Many interns return after graduation as full time employees to the company where they interned. These candidates already know your organization.
6. Cost-effective
Interns are working as trainees primarily for educational purposes, and you are not required provide pay and benefits. Although many are paid, internships are typically less expensive than comparable full-time staff, and can increase the productivity of your staff.
7. Bring fresh, innovative ideas to your company
Interns enthusiastically bring new perspectives and access to the latest research.
8. Assistance during peak periods through the year
Hire extra interns during busier times of the year to assist with the work load.
9. Staff can get experience in management by working with an intern
Internships provide an opportunity for career and personal growth of full-time staff to manage, which may not be possible in other situations.
10. Source of diverse employees
Interns from diverse backgrounds can bring new perspectives to your company.
Y Gen Y Whitepaper, Internships whitepaper 
Gen Y Insights: Internships
National Association of Colleges & Employers www.naceweb.org
Next Rockford Offers Support Services
to Rockford Employers
Next Rockford’s Human Resources Team is offering various support services to the Rockford Area businesses that are looking to hire Gen X and Gen Y professionals as well as candidates unfamiliar with the region. With a goal to create, implement and support plans to retain existing businesses and grow new business opportunities, Next Rockford feels it can create significant impact by assisting companies during the recruiting, interviewing and hiring processes.
This team is willing to work with area businesses during each process to help highlight the benefits of not only working in but also living in Rockford. Some supportservices include:
- Participating in a Q&A session during the interview
- Offering tours of the region with candidates
- Entertaining candidates at a dinner or “After Hours” event
- Providing folders with literature from various Rockford organizations
Next Rockford will work with each company to identify the individual needs and customize a support program.
The HR Team has already met with several area businesses and has participated in a number of interview events. Specifically, the Rockford Chamber of Commerce asked members of the team to participate in the YPO (Young Professionals Organization) Director interviews as well as take a candidate to dinner. John Groh, Executive Vice President of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, had this to say of the team’s work:
“Next Rockford’s efforts in helping the Chamber recruit our newest employee, Kelle Marsalis, were extremely useful. I think it was important for Kelle to be able to interact with other next generation leaders while she considered relocating to Rockford. I’d definitely suggest that companies seeking to recruit top-talent partner with Next Rockford.”
On another occasion, the group participated in a lunch interview that a local healthcare provider was conducting. The HR Team was honored to be of service and enjoyed the opportunity to meet with the candidates and provide insight to all parties.
The HR Team not only provides services to the employers but also provides an outreach opportunity to the prospective candidates. Because the team is a diverse group of Next Rockford members at different life-stages, they have volunteered to have candidates contact members at a similar stage and hopefully similar perspectives. Candidates are provided with contact information of members who are either married or single, home-owners or downtown-dwellers, etc.
Next Rockford strives to make a significant impact in the community, and its HR Team’s services focus on retaining and attracting professional talent to the region. Next Rockford believes that the region will continue to grow if the region can attract professionals by highlighting the values of our community.
For more information or to learn more visit www.nextrockford.org or call Brent Scott at 815-519-6776.
Local Career Services Offices
Beloit College |
Rockford College |
Bradley University |
Rock Valley College |
Illinois State University |
University of Illinois at Chicago |
Northern Illinois University |
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Rasmussen College |
University of Wisconsin -Madison |
Rockford Career College |
Western Illinois University |
For more college or university contacts, please call 815-316-4311 for assistance.
Click Here for Local Wage data.
Information about hiring International Students.
