Michael DeSafey | Executive Recruiter and HR Professional
Tips for Hiring New Graduates who will Succeed in Your Organization
Tips for Hiring New Graduates who will Succeed in Your Organization
The construction, engineering, and environmental industry is a great place for new graduates to start their careers. It’s a challenging and rewarding field that offers growth opportunities. However, it can also be challenging for new graduates to break into this industry. That’s why we’ve put together some tips to help you find and hire the best new graduates for your organization.
1) Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Social media is a great way to connect with potential graduate candidates. Use it to post job openings and reach out to new graduates who might be interested in working for your organization.
LinkedIn is a great platform to use when hiring college graduates. Many construction, engineering and environmental professionals are active on LinkedIn, so it’s a great way to connect with potential candidates.
When creating your job posting, include information about your company culture and what makes your organization a great place to work. This will help attract top talent to your company. Include a link to your company website in your job postings so that candidates can learn more about your organization.
Ensure that you’re clear about the qualifications and skills you are looking for in a candidate. This will help you weed out candidates who are not a good fit for your organization.
Be prepared to answer any questions candidates may have about the job or your company. Candidates will want to know what they can expect if hired, so be sure to have this information ready.
Be flexible with your start dates. Many new graduates will already have other commitments to juggle, such as school or other jobs. If you can be flexible with their start date, candidates will find it easier to accept your offer of employment.
2) Network with New Graduates
Attend job fairs and career fairs at local colleges and universities. This is a great way to meet potential candidates and learn about their skills and qualifications. Make sure you have business cards available, or some other way for candidates to contact you after the event.
Follow up with any promising candidates that you meet at these events—send them an email or give them a call to gauge their level of interest in working for your organization. If you know any new graduates looking for a job, reach out to them and see if they might be interested in working for your company.
3) Give Candidates a Chance to Shine
When interviewing college candidates, allow them to show off their skills and qualifications. Ask them questions about their experience and education. If you have any projects that new employees could work on, consider assigning them to these projects during the interview process. This will allow candidates to show you what they’re capable of and how they could be an asset to your organization.
After the interview, follow up with candidates to let them know you appreciate their time and their interest in working for your company.
4) Be Clear About Your Expectations
When hiring new graduates, set realistic expectations for their first few months on the job. Let them know what you expect from them regarding work hours and workload. Make sure they understand your company’s policies and procedures. Give them a chance to ask questions about their job, and answer any questions they might have about your expectations regarding their performance.
5) Offer a Competitive Salary and Benefits Package
When offering a job to a new graduate, be sure to offer a competitive salary and benefits package. Many new college graduates are looking for jobs that offer good pay and benefits. A competitive salary and benefits package will help you attract the best candidates to your company.
Be prepared to negotiate on salary and benefits if necessary. Many new graduates are willing to negotiate on these items to get the job they want.
6) Be Patient
Many new graduates need some time to adjust to the workforce. They may make mistakes at first, or have difficulty with some of their job responsibilities. Be patient with new employees—give them a chance to learn, grow into their positions and to improve their skills / knowledge over time.
Hiring new graduates can be a great way to bring fresh talent into your business. By following these tips, you’ll give your new hires the best chance to succeed in their new roles. If you offer them a bit of time and support, they’ll soon reward you with significant contributions to your company.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering, and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing: www.webuildstaffing.com. To learn more about Michael, or to follow his blog, please visit www.michaeldesafey.com.
New Graduate? Tips For Interviewing For Your First Engineering Job
New Graduate? Tips For Interviewing For Your First Engineering Job
New Graduate? Tips For Interviewing For Your First Engineering Job..
If you are interviewing for a position in the engineering field, it is vital that you stand out from other candidates in order to obtain a position. While your degree and experiences may be sufficient to secure meeting with an HR representative at the company in question, you are likely to have plenty of competition.
When you have obtained a call back or possibly even before, learn more about the company. Go to their website and discover the principles on which it was founded, by whom, and when. See if you are able to find a few interesting facts that will show why you are interested in the company. For example, perhaps the business was involved in a project for which you have a great deal of professional respect.
Make certain that your attire is appropriate for the interview. Because it is a professional position, going in dressed for “casual Friday” is inappropriate. Have your clothing ready beforehand and take an honest assessment in the mirror of your appearance. Hair, including facial, nails and the rest of you should be well groomed. Polish your shoes. The few extra minutes that this requires may provide you an edge in making a good first impression.
Additionally, be prepared for the types of questions that are likely to be presented to you during the interview. One example is they may inquire about what types of special skills or knowledge you may have obtained from internships or part-time employment from previous employment. As you are recently graduated from school, with little work experience in the field, offer an example related to your scholastic experience and how you were able to assist a classmate.
Alternatively, they may ask about what you have learned from a previous mistake. Attempting to gloss over information or pretend as though you have never made an error will make you appear disingenuous, which could cost you the second interview, or the position altogether. However, if you can briefly summarize what you did wrong while expressing what you learned, you will show honesty and the ability to learn two skills that your interviewer will be searching for.
Proper preparation is essential to having a successful interview. If you know about the company and present yourself professionally, you are off to an excellent start. Be prepared to field a variety of questions regarding your experience and educational history. Contemplate the work you have completed in the past prior to the interview. This will help you in delivering honest answers that exhibit your skills in the engineering field.
Michael DeSafey is a leading executive recruiter for professionals in the construction, engineering and environmental industries. He is currently the President of Webuild Staffing www.webuildstaffing.com . To learn more about Michael or to follow his Blog please visit www.michaeldesafey.com