Innovation in campus hiring: Crew’s Campus Forward Award recognition

Campus recruiting requires long lead times, a deep understanding of market conditions, and a strategy built around those conditions that remains adaptable enough to meet inevitable shifts. Each graduating class brings its own expectations for salaries, benefits, and how their skills will be valued in the workforce. Meanwhile, employers must navigate headcount needs that can shift dramatically between the time a student receives an offer in September and their start date the following June.

The ability to match student expectations with employer needs is what RippleMatch’s Campus Forward Awards celebrate. These awards recognize teams that evolve and innovate while delivering impactful talent programs for early career individuals. At Crew, we are proud to operate with a lean team that has been recognized in the recruiting strategy, candidate experience, and DE&I categories for our campus recruiting efforts.

The last five years have tested recruiting teams like never before, requiring frequent strategy shifts. A global pandemic forced a shift to virtual recruiting. The rise of technologies like AI reshaped talent sourcing, and economic fluctuations kept organizations on their toes. For Crew, additional complexities—including navigating mergers and acquisitions, rebranding, and expanding into new markets—have made these years uniquely challenging. These hurdles, or rather “opportunities for growth,” make our recognition by RippleMatch all the more meaningful.

When it comes to candidate experience, we know it goes beyond clear job descriptions and timely responses. It’s about creating a process that feels personal, supportive, and transparent. We make it a priority to share benefits that will meaningfully impact candidates’ livelihoods, offer opportunities for them to connect with employees in similar roles, and provide the information they need to feel confident in their decision to join Crew. During the whirlwind of campus recruiting season, we center ourselves on one grounding question: “What’s the better candidate experience?” Being recognized for this aspect of our process reinforces our commitment to designing thoughtful, impactful interactions for every candidate we engage.

The Diversity, equity, and inclusion category is particularly meaningful to us because it reflects Crew’s commitment to integrating these values into every step of our hiring process. From talent sourcing to onboarding, we focus on ensuring that candidates from underrepresented and underserved communities feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Once candidates join us, they are welcomed into a company where inclusion is not just a core value—it’s a lived experience. Crafting the beginning of their career journey with us in a way that honors diversity is a responsibility our campus team takes seriously, and we are humbled to be recognized for these efforts.

Receiving a Campus Forward Award in these categories affirms what we know we do well and motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. Campus recruiting will always evolve with each new year (and sometimes even each semester), but we are ready to adapt and mature alongside it. With 2025 here, we’re excited to embrace whatever opportunities for growth the future holds.