junior year

As I was going through the college recruitment on-campus program this year for summer internships, there was one commonality amongst all the companies that recruited on campus and took kids away to 2^nd round interviews in New York or Boston offices:  they all gave away seemingly nice, branded gifts that were meant to help build the company’s brand.  These promotional products, including everything from stress balls to t-shirts to toothbrushes all had the same goal:  bribe us into thinking their company was better than the one sitting at the next booth over at the career fair.  Basically, the further you got in the recruitment cycle for each company, the more promotional bags you were given as prizes.  When I stayed in a hotel for an overnight trip for which I had an interview the next day, I arrived and was given food, a duffel bag, mouse pad, water battle, blanket and more, all with the company’s name prominently displayed over all the items.  It seems like a huge expense for companies to pay for promotional products like these, but in the end, the greatest risk for these companies is failing to recruit the absolutely best, top-quality talent.  With this mindset, they are willing to spend millions a year on self promotion in order to ensure they don’t fall behind in the precious war for talent—we benefit!