RECRUITING THE RECENT GRADUATE
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25/10/2022
Millions of graduates enter the workforce every year and they are a valuable source of talent. Although they are not established and experienced professionals, they can bring so much potential to an organisation. Most employers will target candidates with experience; however, a graduate will come with a lot of passion and drive to succeed, and they want to make a great first impression and will work diligently to prove themselves. They are tech-savvy and can bring a fresh perspective as well as diversity to your organisation.
Challenges of hiring graduates
A graduate will not tick all the requirements for the job, and they will lack that direct experience however this is okay, we all have to start somewhere. Graduates will have an aptitude for learning so on-the-job training will provide them with hands-on experience. Graduates are attracted by an employer’s brand and innovation, so an organisation needs to look at how its brand is portrayed and modernise it if necessary. The employer brand is integral in attracting new talent and promoting benefits like work-life balance.
Recruiting and engaging graduates
Career goals are important for a graduate along with job security and stability. What learning and development opportunities can you offer? Training is a significant factor and having a mentor is especially important. Graduates are interested in a career path so you need to be able to outline how you will help them to reach their career goals. College and university career fairs are still relevant and popular and are a fantastic opportunity for organisations to highlight themselves and engage directly with imminent graduates but ensure you collect as much information as possible from students so you can stay connected with professional correspondence, this also improves employer branding.
Graduates are ambitious and enthusiastic
Most graduates are keen to get their careers started and will come with a strong commitment and enthusiasm to learn. They will have participated in volunteer work and performed leadership roles in student clubs, so a recent graduate will have already attained some valuable characteristics. They will also be tech-savvy and master technology and technological platforms.
Diversity and long-term career development
When you are recruiting, it is important to bear in mind that graduates are potential leaders of the future so as a hiring manager you can develop their skills and also think about the long-term needs of the organisation. Graduates bring diversity to the workplace, and this can be embraced into the organisation’s culture as diverse workplaces tend to be more attractive to candidates when they are looking for new opportunities.
Recruiting graduates on social media
Technology is a way to relate to graduates and there is no better platform than social media. On LinkedIn, you can attract the right candidates by posting jobs in relevant groups and on university pages. On Facebook, you can find graduates with specific skills and educational backgrounds. On Twitter, you can add videos and photos about your organisation which will attract recent graduates.
Graduates today are entering an ever-changing and quickly shifting market so an organisation will need to review their recruitment strategies and the tools they use to source and attract candidates. At KLC Recruitment we get a lot of queries from graduates looking to take that first step on their career path. We have supported and placed Graduate Social Workers in established not-for-profit organisations where they can truly develop a career. It is about offering a career not just a job and considering where will they be in 6 months, one year or even 5 years. As an organisation, you need to consider the short and long-term goals and how these will be accomplished. In this way, you build a lasting relationship with a graduate who will inevitably bring value to an organisation.