Senior Director of College Relations & ACT Programs
Tiffany Sellers
At ARAMARK, Tiffany Sellers is responsible for college and high school recruiting for the entire company—a job which allows her to act as a sounding board, counselor, and big sister to many of her recruits.
What is it about your job that makes you get out of bed every morning? It’s two fold. First, being an ambassador for such a large organization and telling potential candidates about who we are and what we do. Secondly, knowing that my team and I are providing opportunities for college students to begin their career is thrilling. There is one recruiter that you will always remember and that is the person that recruited you directly from college, the person that held your hand through the process. I remember the person who recruited me, and that person has a special place in my heart.
What’s something about ARAMARK that only people who work there know? I don’t think people understand the diversity of our portfolio we impact customers and clients from birth to their senior years ARAMARK can truthfully be a part of your entire lifecycle. We’re in hospitals, K-12 school systems, colleges, airports, sporting events like the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, museums, prisons, and senior living facilities.
Do you have any interviewing tips you can share? First, students need to know something about the organization so often students say, “You tell me [about your company].” Recruiters love to talk anyway, so there’s no WOW factor if we’re doing all the talking. Second, it’s important to know what you bring to an organization many times students don’t know how to articulate, “This is who I am, and this is what I bring to table.” Third, students should improve their listening skills it important to understand the question being asked. And finally, they should learn how to close the deal. At the end of the interview process students often say, “When can I expect to hear from you?” I would encourage students to say, “I’m looking forward to working with you and your organization, I’ll follow up soon,” and close the deal.
What makes you choose one intern before another? I am looking for someone who will fit into our organization. Many companies are looking for high GPA requirements, school name recognition, and other important criteria. At the end of the day, the most important thing is finding the right candidate for the right position.
What is your advice to a student who didn’t get the internship he or she wanted? I would encourage them to contact the recruiter and ask for feedback. A lot of times it could be about professionalism, not answering questions, being distracted by a cell phone, or being tardy or late. This can be improved with coaching and perhaps if they didn’t get an internship with us, they may be making similar mistakes with other companies.