• by Larissa Faw , June 3, 2015

A majority of college career marketing initiatives are focused on graduation statistics and end results, particularly with job placements and career accomplishments. However, Temple University and its agency 160over90 are taking a different tack by showing corporate leaders that hiring a Temple grad could be their best investment yet. 

This ‘Hire an Owl’ campaign builds on the idea that Temple's students are the school's biggest advocates and features real students and their stories. Ads for the effort issue a call-to-action to employers to hire them for internships and jobs. Ads run throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs via print and transit ads, an LED ad outside City Hall, and a custom microsite. 

“It’s our mission to prepare each and every student for all aspects of professional life, and we take a very personalized approach,” said Rosalie Shemmer, senior director, Temple University Career Center. “Large-scale career fairs are replaced with intimate networking events where alumni serve as mentors, and employers meet with students one-on-one. The new ‘Hire an Owl’ campaign is an extension of that ideology -- we’re publicizing individual, in-progress student success stories, and there’s potential to directly impact career placement." 

“We always say it's better to show than tell with marketing," says Brendan Quinn, creative director at 160over90. “And these students show how determined, tenacious, and ready Owls are when they enter the workforce. With a number of Temple grads here on staff at 160over90, we can testify to that.”