Talent - Jeff Daniel

Take Harvard University and the University of Michigan. One is a private Ivy League school, the other a huge state university. At Harvard, CollegeHire might host a low-key wine-and-cheese gathering at a pleasant, quietly elegant restaurant in Harvard Square, whereas at the University of Michigan, the event might be margaritas at a lively bar in Ann Arbor. Harvard recruits are, generally speaking, risk-averse and meticulous job hunters, Daniel says. "They're very analytical. They want a proven track record, they want name-brand recognition, and they want to know what other Harvard grads work there."

Michigan grads, on the other hand, "are more go-with-the-flow types. They're not as concerned about where they're going to be in three years or the specifics of a 401(k) plan. The bottom line is, they want to be challenged, and they want to have a good time doing it. So you give them a feel for a company's culture."

Despite those differences, Daniel believes that students everywhere share one overriding interest: the desire to have an impact early. He advises clients to avoid the phrase "entry-level" when describing job openings, because that's not what students are looking for. "They don't want to be 'employee number 23,400,' " says Daniel. "So even if they're going to be on a product team at a large company, tell them how that team impacts the department, and how that department impacts the company."