What to Know Before You Hire 2014 Graduates

What to Know Before You Hire 2014 GraduatesWhat to Know Before You Hire 2014 GraduatesWhat to Know Before You Hire 2014 Graduates DeZubeWhen it comes to hiring college graduates, small businesses have three things that many 2014 college hires say theyre looking for in an employerInteresting and challenging workA supervisor who mentorsOpportunities for rapid advancementAbout one-quarter of 2014 college graduates said one of those three items was the most important benefit they were landseeking from an employer, according to the Accenture 2014 College Graduate Employment Survey.Accenture surveyed 1,010 students graduating from college in 2014 as well as 1,005 students who graduated from college in 2012 and 2013.Knowing that students seek those three workplace opportunities, small companies may find it beneficial to mention one or all of these advantages in job advertisements and interviews.These findings are not just for big companies, says Katherine Lavelle, managing director of Accen tures Talent Organization practice. Theyre highly relevant to all employers who are competing for a talent base from universities.Lavelle recommends having your value proposition ready and knowing how you will meet 2014 graduates expectations of themselves and their employers.Where to Source College GradsSmall-business owners who lack the time or money to attend university job fairs can recruit 2014 graduates by contacting the career services centers at colleges and universities.Debbie Young, director of the Office of Student Professional Development at the Craig School of Business at California State University, Fresno, recommends that employers highlight your small company cultureand benefits, since not all students realize what small businesses have to offer as employers.Talk about how you can connect them with community resources and how they can quickly move up to be the manager of a marketing department versus starting in a 500-person marketing department, she recommends.Youn g also recommends seeking out entrepreneurship majors. Theyll be happy to join you because they want to see how a small business is run, she adds.Heres what else to know about the class of 2014, courtesy of the Accenture study1. Theyd like you to train them. This is a group makes career decisions based on employee training, making it a differentiator in gaining talent. Eighty percent of this years graduates expect theyll get formal training.It doesnt have to be a formal employee training program. In small companies training can be shadowing or having an integration buddy who helps you acclimate to the company, Lavelle says.Remember too that your Millennial workersmay need some extrahelp with developing their soft skills.2. Monster.com is a great way to find students. More than one-third (36 percent) of 2014 graduates said that electronic job boards such as were the most effective method of looking for and finding a job.3. Students from other states will come to you. Three-quarters ( 74 percent) of pending 2014 graduates said they would relocate to another state to take a job, but only 21 percent of 2012 and 2013 grads said they had relocated for a job.4.Nosigning bonus required for most students. Theyll be happy just to get an offer. More than one-quarter (28 percent) plan to take the first job offer they get. However, theyre not as willing to compromise on salary as last years grads were. Of 2014 graduates surveyed, 33 percent plan to give in on salary, compared with 43 percent of 2013 graduates.5. Theyre a practical group. The two benefits 2014 graduates want most are a competitive salary (66 percent) and health insurance (54 percent).6. Theyre mora loyal than previous classes. Two-thirds (66 percent) of pending 2014 graduates think theyll stay in their first job for three years or more, compared with only 44 percent of earlier grads.7. Theyre a bit unrealistic aboutearnings. While only 18 percent of this years grads expect to earn $25,000 a year or less, mor e than twice as many (41 percent) of 2012 and 2013 grads are currently earning in that $25,000 range.8. They needto pay off their student loans. Only about one-third (32 percent) of 2014 graduates will leave school without any student loan debt. Another 41 percent will have student loan debt of $30,000 or less, while 16 percent will owe $30,000 to $50,000.Consider offering a tuition forgiveness program, particularly if recruiting for in-demand skills.9. Their concerns are the same as other workers.The biggest job concerns for members of the class of 2014 areNot getting the salary they want (50 percent)Not having work-life balance (42 percent)Being overworked (37 percent)Having no opportunity for advancement (32 percent)Being bored (30 percent)How to Improve College Graduate HiringThe Accenture study provided three recommendations for employees of any size that want to improve how they hire college grads and develop young workers coming out of college1. Hire based on potential, not j ust immediate qualifications. When recruiting college graduates, remember to hire for attitude and train for skills.Dont rely solely on keyword filters because recent graduates may lack one or more of the job skills you seek. Look for problem-solvers with transferable skills and a desire to learn. They may stick with you longer than an overly-qualified applicant who has the complete skill set you seek.Employers are not going to find the perfect candidate ready to perform the job on day one, Lavelle says. So well have to invest in how to develop that employee.2. Use talent development as a hiring differentiator. Young people want to continue learning, so include training and career advancement informationwhen conducting an interviewand in your online recruiting campaigns.3. Consider alternative talent pools. Stretch your recruiting net beyond your local area. The survey found that many 2014 graduates are willing to relocate to launch their careers.Note makes it easy to put your job p osting in front of eager college graduates. Tag your job postingfor MonsterCollege,an employment website targeted for students and recent graduates. Learn more about how your job can be seen Monster.com and College, at no extra charge.