Scouted Connects Kenyon Students to Job Opportunities
By Amelia Yeager '20
Looking for a way to make the most of your extra time while you’re away from Kenyon? The Career Development Office recently partnered with Scouted, a web service that can help connect students to professional opportunities. Scouted allows candidates to extensively personalize their online profile through video and written responses. Then, the site actively facilitates contact between candidates and employers, ensuring that users’ job searches are supported.
Scouted originated in 2014 on a foundational belief that candidates are more than their resume. “Candidates—especially Kenyon students—have raw abilities and potential that make them thrive in a multiplicity of roles that don’t correlate only to what’s on your resume, especially in the post-grad job hunt,” said Mark Weyland, Head of Business Development at Scouted.
“Scouted increases visibility and access to these roles.”
Scouted is committed to supporting its users. “What makes our system unique is that we select only companies who we believe can foster the career of our candidates,” Weyland said. “These roles should encourage you to grow and build yourself professionally—we want to ensure it won’t be a dead-end job.”
On the candidates’ end, each user indicates their interest in specific positions and completes an online common application, which is then made available to prospective employers. This form includes a “virtual interview” composed of a combination of written and video answers in order for the candidate to best articulate their assets. “Employers need to understand communication, problem-solving, and other intrinsic qualities that don’t read on a resume. These are better predictors of long-term success,” Weyland advised, “so it’s beneficial to share applicable experiences through the virtual interview.”
Scouted also uses a unique “talent success team” to make sure each candidate’s experience is productive and user-friendly. Their onboarding support measures aim to make the post-grad job search as smooth and accessible as possible. “In the long run,” Weyland said, “our goal is to be stewards of the experience. We not only want to guide users through the system, but we want to be your advocate—even after you’ve got the job.”
To make this happen, Weyland advised that students put as much information as possible into their virtual interviews. “Getting to know you means we can advocate on your behalf in navigating conversations like compensation, insight into the industry, and advancing in your field,” he said. While some companies follow a traditional hiring process after Scouted makes the introduction, some choose to use Scouted as a steward from the initial search to the job offer. Regardless of the duration of a user’s experience, Scouted aims to provide quality, personalized support along the way.
To get started, create an account at https://scouted.io/. You will have the option to complete the virtual interview, which Weyland strongly encourages. Check out Scouted’s blog for career insights and tips on how to maximize your experience with the platform. While the CDO has suspended in-person appointments and events, virtual resources are still available. Learn more on the Career Development Office website.