Tips for Recruiting Recent Grads

By Kaitlin Hurtado on April 29, 2017

With such a competitive job market, a common thought toward recent college graduates is that they will take any possible job offer, regardless of the circumstances of the job. However, college graduates do have their dream offer in mind and will shop around different companies to get as close as possible to it.

In order to effectively recruit recent college graduates to your company, keep the following things in mind.

Sell the position with a good job description

One of the biggest selling points to college graduates is the job description you provide during recruitment. If the job description is vague and does not give the graduate a clear idea of what they are expected to do on the job, they will be more likely to look elsewhere as there won’t be much that sticks out to them upon hearing the description.

If you provide a clear job description that describes what they are expected to do, such as daily tasks and who they will be working under, there will be more points of interest to keep the graduate looking at the offered position. With clearer descriptions, it will be easier for the graduate to make a decision on whether or not to take the job offer if they can point out aspects they look for in a job when hearing or looking at the job description you give during the recruitment process.

Describe a typical day on the job — who they will get to work with, the hours they may be working, and the type of daily tasks they are expected to execute. Also, describe the job environment they will be put in; will there be competition among new hires? Or will it be a learning environment with experienced professionals to guide them into building a career?

An idea of what the job entails will help both parties in the long run as college graduates can accept the job with a clear idea of what the position entails and will work to meet those expectations.

Be clear about the salary that comes with the job position

Depending on the type of job offered, graduates may or may not be relying solely on the job offered to them to make a living. The salary may be the deciding factor in the graduate’s decision to take the job offer.

Be open about the salary that is being offered, and do not make false promises about potential raises or negotiations if the chances of an actual change in salary are slim. If negotiations are possible, however, make it clear during the recruitment process. If you are able to negotiate a starting salary with graduates, they will be more open to spending time considering the job offer and eventually accepting it.

Open up the possibility for future promotions

Most college graduates seek stability in the job they pursue after graduating. They don’t want to rework their life for a job that is temporary or won’t be getting them anywhere in the future. If the job offer involves a lot of time commitment or requires the graduate to relocate, emphasize the potential for future promotions to better persuade them to take the job offer.

If the job description doesn’t fit what they are looking for at the moment, the offer of future promotions can. Future promotions equal stability in the eyes of graduates, and they will be more open to relocating or committing more time in order to accept the job offer.

The possibility for future promotions will help graduates think about the job and where it can take them in the long run. More opportunities make the job offer appear more promising for most college graduates, as there is guaranteed room for growth and something to work toward when they accept your job offer.

Image via pexels.com

Sell the opportunities the position will bring them 

Instead of selling the job as just a job position, emphasize the opportunities that come with the job offer. Even if it’s an entry-level job position, mention how the work they are doing will help them gain experience in the field. The more immersive and hands-on the job is, the more appealing the job offer can seem as they are able to put their college degree to use and gain actual experience instead of doing simple busy work for assistants.

Along with hands-on experience, recent graduates will want to work with other professionals that can help them learn more in their desired career field. Working with experienced professionals will help them get the guidance that they weren’t able to get in college and help them create a network for future opportunities, regardless if the current job offer includes them.

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