New college graduates are eager to get their first job. Many are excited to get real-world experience to put on their resume and may not be as concerned about the dollar amount on their checks. Some small-business owners jump at the opportunity to get these eager employees cheaply, but inexperienced team members can actually hold the business back unless the company is willing to make an upfront investment. You may want to keep these seven tips in mind if you want to hire a new college graduate who will help—not hurt—your business.
Write a Very Detailed Job Description
Being specific about the qualifications and what needs to be accomplished for this entry-level position may help you hire a new college graduate that's a good fit for your company. Consider keeping it simple since college students may not know industry jargon or abbreviations. Mentioning required skills, pay, location, when the job would start and how to apply for the job may help as well. And you may want to include the career development opportunities inside the company to attract millennial employees.
Pay 10 Percent More
The average college graduate has $37,172 of debt. Paying 10 percent more than the average starting salary for a position may not buy the best candidates, but it may help the new college graduate who plans on working hard to be successful. Giving raises after six months to the very best may also aid retention and loyalty when you're looking to hire a new college graduate.
Hire a New College Graduate With Attitude in Mind
This can be good hiring advice for anyone you hire, but it may be even more relevant for entry-level positions since the prospective employee comes with little direct experience. Consider figuring out what they're passionate about by asking, “What do you consider yourself an expert in? What could you teach me about that subject?”
You may also want to ask questions that will help you determine how they will fit into your company's current culture and mission. If possible, consider hiring full-time employees from paid internships; it may be a good way to “try before you buy.”
Train for Skills
This may be one of the most important parts of hiring a new college graduate that can encourage initial success: Consider training entry-level employees like they are an apprentice from their very first day. This can be done through a formal training program at the company or by working alongside a more experienced person who knows how to teach. You may want to consider paying the mentor for the new employee’s success, because it may encourage them to take a stake in the new employee's success.
Consider telling the entire team that this is the new hire's first job, and remind them that they may need more time for learning and for making mistakes. You may want to tap into your new hire's energy and enthusiasm for learning new things by giving them a broad training across the entire business and having them spend some time in all of the major departments.
Train for Time Management
Working is very different than attending college—and for people who have never worked 40 hours per week annually, it can be a shock. Some new college graduates may have had jobs, but not ones where they were measured by their results. You may want to stress the importance of them being responsive and results oriented, rather than just focused on “putting in” their 40 hours.
Check In Often
Consider following their progress and achievements and giving positive or negative feedback at least weekly. Remember that millennials need this personal attention more than any other generation. The good news is that new college graduates working in their first job may be able to change directions more quickly since they could have less bad work habits to break.
Ask for Personal Contributions
You may want to ask your new graduate hire what could help them do their job better or what other companies are doing in the industry that could be an improvement to your company's current process. Getting them to understand the mission of the company and how their personal involvement can make a difference may help make them feel appreciated and engaged.
Remember that most college graduates will stay in their first job less than a year, according to Express Employment Professionals. Try not to take it personally if and when they leave. However, small-business owners may want to ensure that they get a return in that short period of time they have new college graduates, if hiring them is to be profitable for the company.
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