Experience vs. Enthusiasm – Key Benefits of Graduate Recruitment

With the recent wave of new graduates entering the professional workforce for the first time, I’m sure that your current talent pools have been a bit thinner on experience than you would probably like to see. It’s easy to ignore these graduate applications, especially if your current vacancies aren’t junior level positions but, while a new graduate isn’t going to be the right fit for every role you’re recruiting for, it might pay off to start considering new graduates in some instances. This article will attempt to lay out a few of the key benefits you’re likely to enjoy if you decide to consider graduates for your current vacancies

Knowledge & Intelligence

As much as we all try to stay on top of new developments in our respective professional fields, it’s very easy for these developments to slip past. Recent graduates have spent the entirety of their time at University researching and developing a strong knowledge base regarding the latest innovations in their chosen field. This can potentially translate into an immediate injection of fresh and innovative thinking for your team. Additionally, graduates will bring with them a deep understanding of workplace technologies and, even if they don’t have knowledge or experience with the specific systems established within your workplace, they’ll find systems intuitive and easily pick up on the nuances of your workflows.

Enthusiasm & Ambition

A new graduate can also bring some much needed enthusiasm to your team. They will be keen to demonstrate their abilities and will likely attack their newfound responsibilities with zeal. This should also translate into accelerated training periods.  New graduates are also very ambitious. Projects that have fallen by the wayside either due to understaffing or perceived unimportance are often taken on by a new graduate looking to make their mark on their new organisation.

Adaptability & Affordability

A key advantage a recently graduated candidate will hold over an experienced candidate will be their adaptability.  They will join your organisation without the baggage or bad habits that often come with more experienced candidates.  This will also allow you the opportunity to shape the graduate into a cultural fit for your organisation.   Another important aspect of making the decision to consider graduates has to do with your bottom line.  While it may cost more to train a new graduate and get them up to speed, this cost is often offset by the lower salaries new graduates expect.  A recent scan of Seek advertisements for Accountants found that Graduate Accountant roles were generally offering between $40,000 and $50,000 per year while experienced accountants were often advertised with salaries in excess of $70,000. Similarly, graduate Civil Engineering roles were advertising salary packages circa $60,000-$70,000 while experienced Civil Engineering vacancies routinely balloon above $100,000.

Return on Investment

The return on your investment in training can be substantial; especially when you consider the value that an innovative program or process has within your business. While a new graduate isn’t always going to be suited to every vacancy that arises within your organisation, there will be a number of occasions in which the risk associated with hiring a graduate are outweighed by the potential benefits to your organisation’s goals and, ultimately, your organisation’s bottom line. If you would like to discuss the various attraction options for conducting a graduate recruitment campaign or are interested in learning about developing an ongoing graduate program, you can call Employment Office at 1300 366 573.