Talent Attraction & Retention
Attracting, recruiting and retaining talent to our region is a high priority for the MetroHartford Alliance. Our economic development philosophy has been that if you can attract talent to a region, companies will follow. The Alliance focuses on attracting a diversity of talent from all ages with a particular focus on attracting the best and brightest recent college graduates and young professionals. The Alliance also participates in a cross state effort between Hartford, CT and Springfield, MA to increase the number of local college graduates who will remain in the region following graduation.
In this Section
Hartford Young Professionals and Entrepreneurs (HYPE)
The Hartford region's young professionals and entrepreneurs who are in their 20s and 30s are an invaluable asset to our economic growth. HYPE was formed in 2006 to help young professionals become better engaged in community life, expand professional and social opportunities and become ambassadors for the Hartford region.
These innovative young adults volunteer their time and energy to lead the group in endeavors of social activities, career development programs, and community service. HYPE will also collaborate with area agencies and organizations by offering to promote their programs and activities targeted to young professionals and entrepreneurs. The overall purpose of HYPE is to position the Hartford region as an attractive place for diverse young professionals and entrepreneurs to live, work and play and is seeking seed monies from interested sponsors to develop special programs and projects.
Go to HYPE
Senior Human Resource Task Force | top
The Alliance has assembled a Senior Human Resources Task Force, comprised of executive-level representatives from nearly 50 corporations within our region, who meet on a quarterly basis. Their mission is to provide leadership in attracting, recruiting, and retaining professionals of all levels to our area. Their primary focus is on positioning the region as an attractive place for young professionals to live and work. The Task Force recently supported an updating of the Hartford.com website-the leading on-line resource for regional information-which now provides extensive background on the live, work, learn, and play elements. This group is
working on many short-term projects to assist HR managers in their hiring efforts. The projects include producing and distributing marketing materials, as well as supporting them through "training programs" that will effectively promote the metro Hartford region to prospective employees.
The Senior HR Task Force is chaired by Dick Rogers, vice president of Human Resources for ConnectiCare.
Corporate Intern Committee | top
A group of mid-level human resource management professionals, representing nearly 50 businesses, meets annually to focus on issues related to their summer intern programs. The mission of this committee is to provide rewarding summer internship opportunities while introducing the interns to the variety art, historical, dining, sporting, and musical activities in our region. The committee plans an introductory "Welcome to Hartford" party for the over 1,000 interns who come into our region each summer from throughout the U.S. The annual kick-off party is a key opportunity to introduce interns to each other and to our region.
The Committee participated in the development of a dynamic DVD entitled Hartford: Make it Your Own to entice young professionals to work in the Hartford region upon graduation from college. The overall objective of the summer intern program is to expose students to the workplace while introducing business professionals to prospective hires who may return to the area to begin a career.
Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership | top
- Graduate Retention Project | top
Under the banner of the Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership, human resource professionals, business and economic development leaders, and college career counselors collaborate on ways to best retain the region's 26,000 annual college graduates. The Partnership conducts surveys of college students to determine the number of graduates planning to stay in the region upon graduation, and their reasons why. The Partnership holds college career expos annually, attracting over 2,000 students and between 80-100 companies.
Go to Hartford Springfield Partnership
- Internhere.com | top
The Hartford-Springfield Economic Partnership, in conjunction with the Connecticut Office of Workforce Competitiveness and the State of Massachusetts has launched a new website, InternHere.com, which connects local college students with internships at businesses throughout the region. As of January 2007 the site had over 4,500 student profiles, 620 employer profiles, and several internship opportunities.
Go to Internhere
For further information please contact John Shemo jshemo@metrohartford.com, vice president and director of economic development for the Alliance at 860.525.4451 ext. 284.
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