Why hire a graduate employee?

Sometimes, hiring new recruits is not just about hiring for experience, skillset and reputation - it’s about investing into a person and believing in their journey.

Fresh-faced, fresh out of university and filled with fresh ideas, a graduate employee can be a valuable asset to your company.

Though some businesses may have concerns about hiring a graduate, preferring to hire someone with experience and prior knowledge in the field, graduate recruitment is the perfect way to innovate, enhance and compete against today’s tough market. 

So, why hire a graduate employee, and how can they prove a worthwhile investment for your company?

Shaped to your needs

There’s a common misconception that a graduate’s lack of experience will be a drawback and drain on your business, taking up precious time and resources to train them to your standards. 

However, this is your opportunity to shape this individual into your ideal employee, embedding them into your company’s culture so they can perfectly fulfil your business’s needs. 

Although experienced employees may bring with them knowledge and expertise, they also bring with them bad habits and methods that may not be quite right for your company - and these can be hard to unlearn. Realistically, it can be quicker and more cost-effective to train up a clean slate than to eradicate ingrained habits.  

Graduates tend to be agile and adaptable, eager to soak up any knowledge you have to offer, and grow with your business to become a fundamental asset. 

New ideas and perspectives

Although the phrase “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it” still rings true, sometimes things need a shake up. New perspectives and fresh ideas that come from top university talent can prove invaluable to your company - these innovative, creative people could be the very start of your company’s bright future. 

With an estimated 36.4 million graduates in the UK in 2022, there’s a huge pool of talented, educated young professionals around. Hiring from this pool increases diversity and inclusion within the workplace, bringing in people from all kinds of backgrounds that will challenge outdated processes, inspire new ideas and get things in motion. 

Transferable skills

Although subject matter is important, it’s not the be all and end all. Some may be hesitant to hire a graduate with a degree that’s not entirely relevant; however, university teaches so much more than their chosen subject.

Transferable skills such as oral and written communications, teamwork, critical thinking, presentation, time management, data analysis and more carry over to all kinds of roles in various different sectors. 

And following the Covid-19 pandemic, these individuals are agile and adaptable to adverse situations, honing in on their ability to self motivate and learn independently, alongside being well-versed at managing their own time.

A worthwhile investment

Graduates understand that when they’ve just landed their first full-time job fresh out of university, their wage won’t be sky-high - yet. 

You may consider it the better option to pay that extra bit more for someone with previous experience. However, once you’ve trained up your graduate employee and shown them the ropes, it’s bound to be a worthwhile investment, for both your company and your candidate. 

By taking a chance on these individuals and offering them an opportunity when others may have refused means that you’re more likely to retain this talent for the long run. You never know, these people could very well be the future leaders within your business.

Tech-savvy

As our world continues going headfirst into a digital transformation, hiring those that know a thing or two about technology is fundamental. UK businesses are reported to be losing out on around £10 million annually on lost productivity due to the general workforce’s lack of digital skills. 

New graduates however, will have been born into the midst of the tech boom and as such will be digital natives. Bringing in new talent to close this productivity gap could be just what your company needs to welcome the future and progress. 

All in all, your business needs to keep up, there’s no point being stuck in the past.

Enthusiastic

And of course, university graduates are usually willing to dive straight into the tasks at hand. Working hard to make a good impression and prove their worth, graduates will go above and beyond, something you may not get the luxury of with someone later on in their career. 

Preparing you for the future

Overall, whether you’re a small, young startup or a global corporation, graduates can offer a whole wealth of valuable benefits - whatever your sector, whatever your size.

In essence, with the proper training, support and opportunities for progression, you’re future-proofing your business with talented individuals that may well lead your company towards a prosperous future.

At Goodall Brazier, we offer a tailored, internal training programme, designed to take individuals from graduate to experienced professional to leader. 

We’re here to help talented, ambitious graduates reach their full potential - because we believe taking on a graduate is not a risk or a timewaster, it’s an opportunity.