The Olinde Career Center at Louisiana State University (LSU) launched Talking Tiger Talent (T3) in April 2023 as a way to modernize and scale the center’s employer outreach and relations efforts. Before 2020, the LSU Career Center relied on in-person meetings for most of its employer engagement efforts. However, after the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the LSU team realized it needed to adapt to a digital work world.

“While in-person meetings were great for connecting and building relationships with employers, they were also time-consuming and resource-intensive,” explains Brandy McMills, associate director of employer development and relations.

“We also noticed that companies new to recruiting at LSU were asking the same questions and we were having the same conversations multiple times each week.”

Inspired by a SoACE conference session led by Ramona Simien of Georgia State University, Olinde Career Center staff leveraged Handshake’s virtual capabilities to create a more efficient and accessible solution for new employer partners.

Created and facilitated by the Olinde Career Center’s Employer Development team, each T3 session is a one-hour virtual meeting held most Thursdays. The sessions are designed specifically for employers that are new to recruiting at LSU as they present a high-level overview of all options available for employers to start building a relationship with the Olinde Career Center.

The flexibility gives staff the capacity to have tailored recruitment strategy sessions with employers that need or want them and to adapt based on the specific industries or needs of the employers attending each week.

Through T3 sessions, Olinde Career Center staff provide employers with:

They also leave room to address current trends or frequently asked questions.

“The sessions are informal, interactive, and designed to meet employers where they are—whether they are local small-business owners or national corporate recruiters,” McMills says.

All employers are invited to attend the T3 sessions. This engagement begins when an employer is approved to post with LSU via Handshake.

“We send a welcome email that includes best practices and an invitation to join the next session,” McMills says.

“We direct individual employers reaching out with questions to join us at the next session to get an overview before scheduling a one-on-one call. Our website also features a dedicated link to register.”

The T3 initiatives address several key challenges in establishing and/or strengthening employer relations and engagement:

“By offering a consistent, virtual point of entry, the program reduces redundancy, increases access to support, and fosters a sense of community among employers,” McMills points out.

“It also helps with scheduling since we host the call almost every Thursday, allowing for a new employer to schedule quickly.”

One initial challenge Olinde Career Center staff faced was ensuring consistent attendance and engagement. They overcame this by embedding invitations at key touchpoints throughout the employer onboarding process and by maintaining a weekly schedule that offers flexibility.

“Additionally,” McMills adds, “we’ve enhanced the value of each session by including real-world tips, visuals, and live Q&A, which keep the sessions interactive and relevant.”

McMills and her career center colleagues offer several tips for creating, conducting, and managing virtual employer engagement sessions:

“Talking Tiger Talent has become more than just an information session—it’s a cornerstone of our employer engagement strategy,” McMills explains.

“It sets the tone for partnership; fosters community among employers; and ensures that every organization, regardless of size or location, feels supported and equipped to recruit LSU talent effectively. Our continued evolution of this platform—including seasonal preview events—reflects our commitment to innovation and employer success.”