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Recruitment
Taking on a worthy
graduate
Peter Lawrence looks at how recuiting direct from universities, formerly the
preserve of multinationals, is a great source of new staff for SMEs
M
ost businesses would benefit from circle4 They will expect a competitive salary. Work on the offer and package. Competition is
recruiting new talent possessing circle4 They will want to be given a high degree of fierce to attract good graduates. You can make
drive, enthusiasm and fresh ideas. responsibility early on. your vacancy more appealing in a number of
But sometimes talent can be difficult to circle4 Often graduates expect formal training. ways:
acquire at a cost that is affordable. One option circle4 They may leave once trained. circle4 Create a clearly understood job spec so that
is to employ a recent graduate from university. the graduate knows exactly what they will be
Traditionally, most graduate recruitment was Bearing this in mind, and thinking about your doing.
undertaken by large companies. Recently, vacancy, decide what qualifications and expe- circle4 Formal training is not always essential, but
businesses of all sizes have been seizing the rience you would like your graduate to have. highly valued. Consider added this to the
opportunity to employ graduates to help inject Are you chasing a generalist or a specialist? package you are able to provide.
some fresh blood into their organisations. circle4 If you require generalist graduates, you’re circle4 Offer a competitive salary. Graduate salaries
There are a number of specialist graduate dealing with a very open field. If you require typically start around £16k. There are regional
recruitment websites and companies on hand someone more specialist, think about the variations. If you are based in London gradu-
to help you weigh up the benefits of employing range of degree subject areas you must ates will expect to start on between £18k and
a graduate, define the type of graduate you re- choose from. £20k.
quire, create a package and anticipat issues circle4 Create a specification of the ideal candi-
and pitfalls. date. Will they need specific skills, such as lan-
Employing graduates:
guages, IT skills or a driving licence?
circle4 It is not always realistic to require appli-
Recent graduates have lots of potential, but cants to have experience. Some graduates
may be more challenging to manage than other may have had placement experience as part of
employees. Some points to bear in mind: their degree. Others may be able to demon-
strate holiday and part-time work. Often
circle4 They are smart and determined. recent graduates are highly qualified but low
circle4 They are likely to be very ambitious and on relevant experience.
willing to work harder in order to prove circle4 You can also judge applicants on
themselves. UCAS points acquired, degree level
circle4 Most graduates are intelligent and well (First, 2:1 etc), University and degree
educated. course.
circle4 The fact that you have offered them their
first career opportunity should give them a
degree of loyalty.
circle4 Graduates starting their first job arrive
with no baggage. They have no precon-
ceived ideas.
circle4 You will have more scope to train them
your way. But they will need basic tutoring
on how to operate in the work environment.
Graduates are not a source of cheap labour.
They are likely to be high maintenance in
many ways.
16 • issue 164 Business Matters
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