Recruiting TalentRegions’ centralized Talent Acquisition team strives to identify and implement innovative talent solutions that support the building of a diverse, engaged workforce. Our associates are a key element of our success, and we seek to recruit a diverse group of talent that shares our values and mission to make life better. We offer performance-driven individuals a place where they can build a career — a place to expect more opportunities.
Emerging Talent Program
One way we recruit top talent is through the Emerging Talent Program. This career development program is designed to refine technical knowledge to fit the current and prospective needs of our business, enhance participants’ individual talents, encourage collaboration and networking and model Regions’ values. Entry into the Emerging Talent Program is accomplished through either an internship or a full-time, line-of-business-specific development program. Most full-time development program positions will have a one- to two-year rotational aspect.
Recruiting Talent for a Diverse Workforce
Regions is committed to hiring candidates with diverse backgrounds and experience. We make a concentrated effort to attract diverse talent through various recruiting initiatives and collaborative efforts. Our Talent Acquisition team partners closely with our Diversity and Inclusion Center of Expertise (the D&I Center) to execute our strategies to attract diverse talent to Regions in a variety of ways.
The D&I Center works closely with community organizations in our footprint to present job readiness programs, mock interview sessions and resume-building workshops in an effort to support our community while attracting new talent to Regions.
For the past two years, Regions has accepted the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnership Challenge, an effort by the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus to encourage corporations to make greater investments in HBCUs. Since making this commitment, in 2019 we introduced an HBCU recruitment strategy focusing on strategic relationships with 10 HBCUs across the Regions footprint.
Regions also works closely with National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations to attract their membership to our Emerging Talent Programs. For example, we engage with undergraduate students to offer leadership development and demonstrate career paths in banking through our relationship with the Kappa Alpha Psi® Fraternity, Inc. and its national programs, including Lead Kappa and the Undergraduate Leadership Institute.
In the summer of 2019, City of Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin launched Birmingham Promise: an initiative to create new career and college opportunities for students in Birmingham City Schools. The program also helps meet the workforce needs of Birmingham’s current and future employers. In addition to providing students with a clear pathway from high school to a rewarding career, the initiative provides more inclusive prosperity in the Birmingham metro area that also strengthens employers through a diverse, qualified workforce, which in turn helps fuel long-term economic growth. Regions was a proud member of the group of 21 companies that participated in the 2019 pilot program by welcoming one student during the summer to get valuable on-site experience, and we have plans to welcome five new students in Spring 2020.
In addition to our work with community organizations and educational initiatives, Regions is also committed to employing veterans and military members who are seeking opportunities in the financial services industry. Regions has publicly stated its support of these efforts through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) and has issued a separate statement of support through Military.com. We engage with this group of talent through military-focused career programs, fellowships, and on-base recruiting. In 2019, we launched BRAVE — Building Regions Associate Veterans Experience. This new military transition program includes a new military recruiting page on regions.com, veteran-to-veteran mentorship, a military-to-banking development program and easy access to military life events resources for associates on our HR Connect life events page. Read more about BRAVE here.
Finally, we are equally committed to supporting employment for individuals with disabilities. In 2019, we strengthened our relationships with local departments of rehabilitation by hosting a summer work program and updating our regions.com/careers page to affirm our commitment to employing people with disabilities.
Deploying New Recruitment Strategies
We are excited about the potential for new initiatives to further enhance our talent recruitment process going forward. In 2019, we launched a new Corporate Alumni Program, which increases our ability to stay in touch with associates who choose to leave or retire. Alumni have access to a portal where they can remain connected to Company news and information. The Program will also serve as a recruitment tool by including job postings and connecting with previously employed talent.
We also plan to develop and launch a formalized Internal Mobility Strategy in 2020 aimed at putting a career roadmap in front of all Regions associates. This will build upon our already strong pipeline of internal talent as evidenced by the fact that 43.1 percent of open requisitions were filled by existing Regions associates in 2019.