RBC to hire student bloggersNew peer-to-peer online forum to connect students with each other
TORONTO, August 22, 2007 — The search for bloggers
is on, as RBC announces its plan to hire six post-secondary
student bloggers this fall to represent the interests of their
postsecondary peers through the bank's soon-to-be launched
peer-to-peer (p2p) information exchange site.
RBC p2p - an online forum where students can speak openly
and honestly about their financial struggles and successes
- is scheduled to go live by the end of August. The site's
content will be driven by students, while the six new student
hires will manage discussions, blog about their own banking
experiences, and share information and solutions about the
money issues that matter most to undergrads and graduate students.
"When I was a college student I had lots of questions
about managing my money through the school year - now that
I'm out of school, I want to make sure students have easy
access to the information they're looking for," said
Michel Savoie, a bilingual francophone from Sudbury, who will
be hosting the RBC p2p site and leading the blogging team.
"I see RBC p2p as a place where students can share stories
and experiences and talk about solutions that will work for
them - and what better way to do that than with a site for
students, managed by students."
Those applying for the RBC p2p blogging team will be asked
to create and forward their homemade audition videos, which
will be uploaded onto the RBC p2p web site. Once the videos
are posted online, students visiting the site will be able
to view and vote for their favorite candidates. The six positions
as RBC bloggers will go to those with the most votes.
"Step one is to find our bloggers," said Savoie.
"To make sure students have a part to play in deciding
who gets these jobs, we've decided to take a whole new approach
to hiring that will actually leave the final decision with
the student community."
As soon as RBC p2p is up and running, video applications
will be accepted on site until October 31. There will be a
two-tier selection process with RBC choosing and posting 12
candidates and students voting on the final six who will then
be hired for a one-year contract term.
"After speaking extensively with students about their
circumstances, we looked into creating a space that would
connect them with the financial information they need and
expect, all in way that is familiar and convenient for them.
We believe we're doing that with RBC p2p," said Judy
Murchison, director, Marketing Strategy, Student Market, RBC
Royal Bank. "Not only that, RBC p2p is the icing on the
cake for what is a truly comprehensive suite of offerings
for students - we're on school campuses, we're offering no
monthly fee student banking, we're podcasting money information
to students, we keep adding to our student scholarship support,
and we're on Facebook."
Last week, RBC launched its new sponsored Facebook group,
RBC Campus Connection, where students can access student offers,
financial information, scholarships, RBC contests and other
promotions such as a free trip to Australia.
Information about the application process for RBC p2p will
be posted online at www.rbcroyalbank.com/student
at the end of August and will also be featured on RBC's new
sponsored Facebook group.
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Media Contact:
Beja Rodeck, Media Relations, (416) 974-5506
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