Graduation season is upon us!
Masses of aspiring college grads are hitting the work force, hoping to be the change they wish to see in the world…but many are in for a rude awakening.
As I learned after receiving two bachelors degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, the economic times are pretty tough & many employers are reluctant to hire people fresh out of college.
They’re overqualified for entry-level, hourly positions & underqualified for big-responsibility, salaried positions.
Then, there are articles like these which encourage employers to hire away from young staff.
It’s a no-win situation for recent graduates.
Now, before I go any further, please note that I’ve never been a “professional” employer in my life. I don’t know what goes on in the minds of these folks & what their thought process is when contemplating new hires.
HOWEVER, I was fortunate enough to be offered 3 jobs (I accepted 2) within 3 months of graduating from UNR with 2 bachelor’s degrees.
In the 3 years since I graduated in May 2012, I’ve held multiple contractual jobs, a couple of W-2 salaried jobs, and now work for myself and other specific clients.
But it wasn’t immediately like this – no, there was actually a point after I graduated where if I didn’t find a job within 4 weeks, I would have to move back home to Las Vegas from Reno because I had simply run out of money.
And after seeing many colleagues and classmates struggle to land their first post-school job, I realized I was in the minority when it came to finding an occupation.
As we all struggled to find consistency and someone who wanted us (like a lost dog roaming through neighborhoods), I wondered why so few employers were seemingly willing to take a chance on hiring recent graduates.
…
I asked myself: Why don’t employers hire more young & ambitious people?
Lack of experience is probably the biggest & best reason – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
BUT after the trials & tribulations, ups & downs I’ve been through on the job market, here are 4 reasons why I believe employers SHOULD hire people fresh out of college.
1) They’re driven.
Graduating college & finding a job relatively quickly is a rarity nowadays.
So you can bet the change in your pocket that this college grad is going to work extra hard to prove themselves and show that they belong in the same breath as people who’ve been professionals for 5+, 10+, 20+ years.
Personally, I work at home all the time & routinely work til midnight from remote locations (after leaving my office), just to constantly prove my worth.
Young people, they’re willing to work hard to prove themselves time & time again.
2) They’re teachable.
Since they’re new to the work force, college grads are usually careful not to ruffle too many feathers & are generally open to any advice and teaching they receive.
Many have a growth mindset. They’re willing to work hard to find alternative solutions and embrace challenges in front of them.
They have no reason to be arrogant or cocky since they’re green to having a “real job.” Thus, they are more likely to be accepting of new teachings, suggestions & methods over someone who’s been a professional for years now & has their own ideas over what works & what doesn’t.
3) They’re cheap.
I hate saying this (because I was tremendously underpaid for a while), but many recent graduates are just happy to have a job immediately after college.
They’re happy to prove to their families that their sacrifice in attending & graduating college was not for naught. They’re glad knowing that their studies resulted in a job…even if that job pays them WAY less than they’re worth.
Being new into the workforce, they’re pretty much happy with whatever is offered to them. They typically aren’t responsible for much more than ourselves (no house or children), so they’re willing to work for lower pay. Money is money.
4) They’re excited.
How many Facebook posts have you seen with one of your friends telling people about an unpaid summer internship they just landed?
Out of the 27 you’ve seen, I bet you my life savings (about $28.37) they’ve all been from people in their 20s.
People this age are genuinely excited to work for ANYONE.
AND you’re offering to give them an entry-level salary?
Fresh out of college?
Sign em up!
This excitement translates greatly into the work they do, the attitude they have every day at work, the ideas they bring to the table & the rejuvenation they provide to their coworkers.
No one wants to be showed up by the 21-year-old new girl, so they’re going to work harder to out-do her. In actuality, they’re all working harder for the company as a whole, which benefits you as the employer.
So there you have it. Why hire recent grads? You can pay em less, they’re hard workers, they’re unbelievably excited to be there & they’re willing to learn.
What more do you want from an employee?
This isn’t to say employers should prefer recent grads over experienced applicants who have put in their time, though. I’m simply explaining there are great benefits to hiring those new to the workforce.
So take that into consideration as you receive mounds & mounds of apps from recent grads this summer…there are some flakes of gold in those neatly written résumés!
Why or why wouldn’t you take a chance on a recent grad? I’d love to hear your comments below!