Whatever industry you operate in, attracting and developing good graduate talent should be a priority for your business. Millennials and Generation Z already make up more than a third of the global workforce and over the next decade, that figure is set to rise to 58%.
Hiring and developing top graduate talent now is a great way to bring in enthusiastic employees with ideas and skills that will benefit your business both now and in the future. However, it is challenging to attract high-calibre talent at all levels and once you have them, you’ll have to focus on retaining them too.
If you want to develop graduate talent to become top performers in your business for years to come, here’s what you should do.
For any new hire, clear communication in the early days is essential but this is even more important for graduates who may not have much previous work experience. They may not know about things more experienced employees take for granted like holiday allowance, sick pay policy and dress code. You should take the time to ensure graduates are fully inducted into your business and properly learn about the different elements of their job, wider business operations and more general work knowledge and skills.
To ensure new graduates are being inducted well and are feeling good about working for the company, it’s a good idea to schedule regular catch-ups especially towards the beginning of their employment. This gives them an opportunity to air any concerns, ask questions and feel valued. It also gives you an opportunity to assess whether they are progressing at the pace you expect.
Research shows us that when employees and managers have regular catch-ups, staff turnover is reduced, and productivity is improved. If businesses check in regularly with their graduates then, they will not only have an opportunity to address minor issues before they develop but will also benefit from a boost in productivity and graduates staying with the company for longer.
As they’re just getting started with their careers, graduates are keen to join companies who can offer good ongoing training and professional development. By providing this, your business will be in a strong position to attract and retain high performing graduates who will feel valued and like they are able to improve and grow with your company and deliver results.
Did you know that 40% of graduates think that a company’s people and culture are the most important when choosing a graduate role? The role’s characteristics comes in second with 25% of the vote, followed by pay packages with 21%. This is according to 2021 research conducted by Bright Network.
It’s important to be aware that what millennials and Gen Z value in a workplace can be quite different from more senior team members who have been working for a long time. Company culture, workplace flexibility and having a work-life balance are key for younger generations entering the workforce so you should ensure that your business is aligned with these.
Now you know how to develop your graduate talent into top performers, you’ll want to ensure you are hiring the best on the market. We have the expertise to help, so get in touch with us today to discuss your graduate recruitment strategy.
