It’s that time of year again. The time of year where your applicant pool will be flooded with hundreds of recent college graduates. It may be tempting to only hire people with years of experience in the industry, but if you do that you could miss out on some incredible employees. Here’s why you should hire new graduates in 2021.
They Are Okay With Going Through Testing
Taking tests straight out of college is no big deal. There are certain industries that require specific abilities, and a quick skills test can help you discover the best candidates for the role. Just make sure the tests are relevant. In 2021 it’s probably not relevant to focus on typing tests. Instead, make sure your hiring process includes job-related tests that can be easily taken online and take no more than 10-15 minutes. Your primary goal should be in finding quality candidates, not great test takers.
New Graduates Might Have Clean Background Checks
Or not. The truth is, everyone at your company should go through a background check for job applications. It’s very common for employees to submit to these in many different industries. It protects both your business and your staff. Violent offenders can be a hazard to a healthy working environment. People who’ve committed financial crimes may not be the most trustworthy to handle sensitive data. New graduates may seem innocuous, and most likely they are, but to be fair make sure everyone gets a background check.
2021 Graduates Are Resilient
Let’s face it, 2021 grads finished their last year of college during a pandemic. The amount of stress they experienced and flexibility they exhibited are tremendous. Their ability to handle challenges will be forever marked because of this experience. If you want staff who can absorb a lot of stress, handle multiple projects, and easily shift when things change, consider new 2021 graduates.
They Have Important Skills
Graduates in 2021 are the most tech savvy of any generation. They can figure things out much quicker than previous generations. While they need good training, they pick up on distinct differences in technology and can implement new processes easier. Their skills and knowledge are valuable additions to businesses who want to grow and thrive.
New Grads May Be More Committed To Their Work
Newer graduates may not have families or as many responsibilities yet. This can sometimes help them focus more on work-related tasks. This focus can help them build their experience and expertise earlier in their careers and set them and your company up for success. It’s important not to take their zeal for work for granted. They are still humans and should be treated with dignity and respect. Do not try and overwork your recent graduates. This will cause burnout and they’ll likely start looking for new work.
They Value Technology and Social Media
Having staff who understand the importance of technology for their jobs is critical. In the event of needing to send staff to work from home or promoting them to important front-facing roles, you want staff who know the ins and outs of using complex tech. It makes the transitions easier and helps your company with training. Because they understand these things so well, they can even be used to help train less tech savvy staff. Their knowledge of newer social media networks can also be used to help your company dive into new places.
New Graduates are Excited to Work
Getting your foot in the door at one of your favorite companies is exciting. New graduates come with enthusiasm, zeal, and fresh ideas that can help your business succeed. Their excitement to do their job can infuse a new sense of excitement into all your staff. Their wild ideas haven’t been tainted by the “we can’t do that” culture that may have permeated your teams. They are inhibited the same way that more seasoned workers can be and they definitely aren’t jaded yet.
New graduates bring all their excitement and energy to their job. They have a unique perspective that can’t be quantified with a test. 2021 grads are more resilient than previous graduating classes because they experienced their senior year during the pandemic. Their ability to flex with big changes is much more developed. They may not have the internship experience or the work experience yet, but adding them to your company could prove to be the best decision you’ve ever made.
