There’s no denying it, young candidates such as recent graduates are an important asset to your business. Fresh, enthusiastic, and eager to learn, many employers value young blood in their organisation. What if we told you, however, that you may be overlooking mature students?
Mature students and graduates bring a lot to the table in terms of life experience, commitment, and drive. Unlike younger graduates, they have had time to really decide on the career path they want to follow. So, while life may have gotten in the way or taken them down a different pathway, their commitment has led them to your business. Plus, as the UK workforce continues to age, there’s no better time to employ a mature student.
This article highlights 5 benefits of hiring mature students.
How Old Is a Mature Student?
First off, there is no typical profile for a mature student. Nor is there an age limit on education. That said, according to UCAS, any student over the age of 21 at the beginning of their studies is considered a mature student.
This makes the term ‘mature student’ a broad one as it could refer to a graduate in their mid-twenties or their mid-forties. Data shows that just over 50% of mature students in the UK are between 21 and 24, 37% are between 25 and 39, and 10% are over 40 when they begin their studies.
5 Benefits Of Employing Mature Students
There are a number of ways your business can benefit from recruiting older graduates. Not only are they an untapped talent pool with huge potential, but they have a unique point of view. Here are just 5 reasons you need to employ more mature students.
1. Mature Students are Driven
While every student is different, most mature students have more responsibilities than their younger counterparts. They may have work commitments, family commitments, or other responsibilities that an 18-year-old school leaver typically wouldn’t. Many mature students have gone back to study because they want a career change or to re-enter the workforce. Because of this, they have a lot more riding on their education and career path.
Mature students have also had more time and life experience to make a decision about what they really want to do. They may even have worked in the field and decided to go back to study for better career progression.
All of these factors tend to make mature students more driven and committed as a student and as an employee. This is great news for employers. They have the opportunity to hire highly motivated and engaged employees with sound life experience.
2. Mature Graduates are Loyal Employees
Many mature graduates are driven by financial commitments, making them more likely to stay in a company long-term. Unlike recent graduates who may want to pack it all in to go travelling, do a Master’s, or move to a new city, older students are typically more stable. What’s more, mature graduates are more driven by job security and work-life balance compared to young school leavers. These factors mean they are more inclined to stay in the same company for longer.
All of this spells good news for employers. High employee turnover is a costly business for organisations. In fact, figures show that every new hire costs UK employers roughly £1000. And that isn’t taking the cost of training into account.
The bottom line is that mature students make loyal employees and that never hurts the bottom line.
3. Older Graduates Have a Vast Set of Transferrable Skills
Thanks to years of experience (both life and professional), mature students’ skillsets are normally more developed than a young graduate. Whether they come from a different profession or personal background, they have a transferable skillset that is an asset to employers. This especially shines through when it comes to building interpersonal relationships, problem-solving, and taking accountability.
On top of having already developed a wide skillset, mature students offer a diverse perspective. Many mature students didn’t follow the ‘traditional’ trajectory of finishing school, getting a degree, and entering the workforce as young graduates. As such, they provide your business with a unique outlook and set of opinions. And, as we know, diverse teams are successful ones.
4. Older Graduates are Employment-Focused
Since mature students took time out and came back to education, they usually have a concrete career path in mind. While some young graduates are still going through the motions, unsure of what they really want to do, older graduates are focused on employment.
As an employer, this can be extremely beneficial. By employing a candidate who has chosen an employability-focused course, you are sure they have honed the necessary job skills. Plus, they are more likely to continue to train to plug any skills gaps for their chosen career. In short, they have chosen their degree or qualification specifically to find a certain job role.
5. Mature Graduates Understand the Professional Landscape
Many mature students already have experience in the working world. Whether they are changing careers, studying for career progression, or going back to school, they are coming with some previous professional experience.
This is advantageous for employers. Onboarding, training, and mentoring recent graduates is a rewarding experience, but it can certainly be beneficial if they have some prior work experience. For instance, they understand how to use certain corporate tools, how to properly write an email, or how to navigate a corporate environment. Experience in these areas will make the onboarding process much easier, allowing the employee to integrate faster.
In a nutshell, previous professional experience (even in a completely different field) will have helped prepare mature students to navigate the workplace effectively. As such, they will need less support and make fewer blunders as they settle in.
Final Thoughts
We hope we have given you some food for thought. Mature students are often overlooked by employers, but they are an untapped talent pool with high potential. On top of being driven, loyal, and reliable, they offer your business a unique perspective and transferable skillset.
With so many business benefits, employers are starting to recognise the potential of mature students. If you want to enjoy the benefits of employing mature graduates, it may be time to rethink your hiring strategy. Start with your job descriptions. How can you make them more inviting to older students? What are the skills you really need? Are you considering transferable skills? All of these questions will help you adapt your approach to encourage more mature students to join your business.
Our website, Developing a Student is packed with guides for employers, including advice on attracting graduates and building an inclusive work environment. Get in touch to advertise your roles on our dedicated jobs board.
