Why You Should Hire College Graduates: Experience Isn’t Everything
Most job postings list a specific range of experience required or preferred in the ideal candidate. And while experience is undoubtedly important, it’s not always the most critical detail. In fact, focusing solely on experience eliminates one group that we believe you shouldn’t overlook.
That group is new college graduates.
College students bring unique benefits to your workplace that you mightn’t have considered before. Here are some answers to the question, why hire college graduates?
It’s Not All About Experience — Consider Soft Skills
Although graduates won’t have years of experience in a traditional workplace, they bring other valuable talents. New workers can be strong in:
- Leadership skills
- Solid work ethic
- Communication skills
- Empathy towards coworkers, customers, and clients
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Problem-solving, including thinking outside of the box
Many graduates survived college juggling schoolwork, part-time jobs, side hustles, and more. Interpersonal skills and the ability to multitask and work hard can sometimes outshine hands-on experience in the field.
Unpolished Gems Can Become the Best Team Members
Fresh graduates are ready to start working in their new careers. They aren’t afraid to put in the hours and make the best impression with their new employer.
While graduates might need more time to adjust, training, patience, and collaboration go a long way. You’ll have first dibs on some of the best budding talent. As a first employer, you can nurture and guide new graduates into doing incredible work.
Modern Perspectives Are Critical for Good Company Health
Modernizing things might sound a little scary to older companies. But recent graduates can help organizations stay in touch with the times while also representing a younger customer base.
Strong company values, including diversity, are important to candidates and customers more than ever. Young workers can provide insightful perspectives from within the company.
Today’s college graduates have also grown up with technology. Unlike older employees who spent decades working with physical filing systems and fax machines, new employees can adapt quickly to any new digital technologies used in the workplace.
Younger Hires Learn Fast and Work Hard
Workers who are just entering the workforce are more likely to:
- Work harder and more efficiently because they’re enthusiastic about doing well in their career path
- Have greater availability and flexibility versus older employees with families and other commitments
- Accept odd work hours — such as evening or weekend shifts — and various job tasks that others aren’t interested in taking
- Put doing an excellent job above ego issues or resistance to change
Even though new graduates are younger, they are less likely to get caught up in office politics or other non-work issues. This can make them eager and efficient workers, just another reason to hire college graduates.
There Are Fewer Barriers in the Recruitment Process
The recruitment process has mainly gone online, which has been hard for older job seekers. But new graduates are already experts at social media, online applications and resumes, and video calls for interviews. You can more easily streamline the process for them, from the first touchpoint to hire.
Overall, don’t look past the benefits of hiring fresh graduates. They probably won’t have the years of experience you want, but their other skills might make up for that, depending on the role. Plus, an eager, excited, and talented new graduate will have tons of room to grow and bring their best to your organization.
