It’s a common dilemma. Does your business employ a graduate or someone with experience? Understandably, some businesses are hesitant about employing a graduate with no experience. But, are they missing out on untapped potential? Graduates bring a lot of valuable skills to the table. Employing a graduate could not just be good for the bottom line, but also the company culture.

On this page, we explore the advantages of employing a graduate for your business. 

1. Employing a graduate offers a fresh perspective

One of the biggest advantages of hiring graduates is that they provide a fresh perspective and insight into new audiences. Graduates have different life experiences, giving them a unique outlook on life, work, and business. Similarly, graduates tend to be more aware of current trends, making your brand more culturally aware. When given a voice, graduates contribute fresh ideas on how to connect with a younger audience. 

The pool of graduates is becoming increasingly diverse. As a result, employing graduates could improve diversity within your organisation. There are huge benefits of creating a diverse workforce. For instance, diverse teams are more innovative and make better decisions. In summary, hiring more graduates could help promote a more diverse workforce in your business. You can also benefit from hiring international students. Consider employing mature students as well! 

Diversity has other advantages, too. Audiences tend to buy more from brands they relate to, so by having a more diverse team, your business can connect with a wider audience on a deeper level, tapping into new markets. 

2. Graduates are often more flexible

You know the old saying, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Well, while we don’t fully agree with this (it’s never too late to retrain or learn a new skill), there is some truth to it.

With experience comes pre-formed ideas and habits. We tend to get stuck in our ways and stop looking for new solutions to old problems. When employers wonder “why hire a graduate?”, the simple answer is flexibility. Graduates are adaptable. They aren’t stuck in their ways. This can be hugely beneficial to your business. 

Graduates also tend to have more flexible schedules. Since they are straight out of university and eager to prove themselves, they usually have fewer commitments. This is perfect if you want an employee who is happy to work anti-social hours or travel a lot for work. Graduates are enthusiastic and excited to take on these types of roles. 

3. Graduates are fearless

Another reason why employing a graduate is good for business is because they are fearless. As we progress in our careers, it becomes more daunting to take on new tasks. This is natural, we know how to do our job well and we don’t want to fail at something new. 

Graduates, on the other hand, are new at everything. As a result, they simply don’t fear failure in the same way as experienced workers. When utilised correctly, this is hugely advantageous for your company.

4. Employing a graduate boosts employee retention

When you hire a graduate, you are effectively getting a blank slate. You can shape a graduate to fit the company culture and to suit different job roles in the business. Graduates have just come from education, so they are easier to teach new skills.

So, how does this tie into employee retention? If you think about it, there is a direct link. When a business employs a graduate and allows them to grow in the company, that graduate is much more likely to stay in the company. Studies show that investing in professional development is the key to employee retention. Therefore, employing a graduate and developing their skills vastly increases the likelihood of them staying in the company and progressing to higher roles.

5. Graduates are tech-savvy

Recent graduates grew up with technology. Technology is now an integral part of education. What does this mean for your business? Put simply, it means that graduates will be able to pick up new tools easily. With very little training, a graduate can master the corporate tools used in the company and perhaps even provide insight into new tools or techniques.

If your business has an online presence, your graduate’s tech skills could pay off big time. With most graduates using social media daily, it’s likely that a graduate has better social media chops than older members of the workforce. Their insight into current social media trends paired with the experience of other members of the team could tap into a whole world of possibilities for your business. 

6. Employing a graduate is good for the bottom line

At the end of the day, the profit margin is the main driver for every business. Hiring a graduate can be a cost-effective way to build your team because graduates usually start on a lower salary. Since graduates need to build experience, they typically accept a smaller wage than workers with a few years of experience under their belts. This can give your business a valuable resource for a reduced price. 

7. Graduates are easy to recruit

There are plenty of ways to tap into a large pool of talented graduates. This makes the recruitment process less time consuming and more cost-effective. Your business can tap into this pool by attending careers fairs, establishing partnerships with educational institutions, and utilising trusted job boards for graduates. By simplifying the recruitment process, your business can save time and valuable resources.

Developing a Student has a number of useful resources to coach your business on attracting graduates.

Interested in finding out more? Our website has a wealth of resources on the benefits of recruiting graduates and tips for attracting graduates. Be sure to also check out our services page for information on advertising on our specialist jobs board, creating a company profile, and more.

Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated with all of the latest news and information from Developing a Student or contact us with any queries.