What Employers Need To Know About the New Wave of College Talent

When hiring the next wave of college talent, it is important to know what they value and need to be successful within a workplace. It can be difficult to navigate each wave of new employees who are looking for jobs, whether they are student employees or have just recently graduated. Knowing key concepts will help you navigate each new wave of student employees.

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Where to promote open positions

The next wave of talent may have different places where they are looking for jobs. They may go to campus career fairs and apply on college job boards, but they may also find jobs on social media and through virtual career fairs. You may even opt to email the potential candidate directly. Be sure to diversify where you promote your jobs so you can get the most applicants you can.

Embrace change

A new generation of talent means a new perspective on how things can be done. While it may be tempting to keep things the way they have always been, this is not feasible, especially if you want your company to appeal to more and more people. Listen to the ideas and perspectives of the younger employees and see how your company can put their ideas into practice. These employees are either in school or have recently graduated, so they have a fresh outlook on the field and may know the latest breakthroughs for how to do things.

Mentoring programs are important

The next generation of employees entering the workforce is looking for people to look up to and help them get to where they want to be. Creating a mentoring program can be beneficial for both the younger employees and the more seasoned professionals. The young employees will learn about your company and field, and the seasoned professionals will learn new perspectives and ways to do things from recent students.

Perks and benefits matter

The new generation is aware of how expensive things are in the world, and they are working hard to earn the money they need to survive. They will not work somewhere that does not pay them the money they need to get by or that does not have the benefits they find important. These employees need to feel like they are appreciated and cared for, and the best way you can show this as their employer is to offer them a livable wage and perks they will actually use and care about.

Work-life balance

Having a work-life balance is a huge boundary for the next wave of employees. They have designated working hours and want to do their best to adhere to them so they can enjoy life outside of work. As an employer, you can do things such as approve time off and allow flexibility in employee schedules for things like appointments and other obligations. These things are becoming increasingly important with the new wave of employees, so it is important to be aware of this and respect the boundaries they set.

Potential for growth

The new wave of employees is looking for opportunities for growth. If these employees are unable to find these opportunities within your company, they will look for the next level at another company, leaving you searching for someone to fill their spot as well. If you see that a candidate has worked at jobs for only a couple of years, they may have wanted to move up in their careers, but there were no opportunities to do so at the company they were at. Be lenient when you see this on young candidates’ resumes and applications.

Do not believe misconceptions

As a seasoned professional who is likely older, it is easy to judge the younger generations. Whether you think they are not intelligent or that they are lazy, there are plenty of misconceptions and stereotypes that are not true as a general rule. There may even be misconceptions about your generation that you know are not true, and you will be upset if you are judged based on these stereotypes. It is important to get to know the individual person beyond the stereotypes of their generation. Not every person will embody every trait that others in their generation.

Recognition and feedback

Being recognized for hard work is crucial for the upcoming generation. They need the validation that they are valued, and if they do not feel like their work matters, they may search for a job at a company that will show their appreciation. This generation also needs immediate feedback on their performance, whether that is feedback on their job interview or on a project they are working on. They recognize that feedback and constructive criticism can help them grow and learn in the field, which is why they worked so hard in school. Be mindful to make notes of things you want to praise or provide feedback on with your young employees.