When it comes to recruiting for hard to fill positions, in addition to immigration advertising, considering hiring from a pool of recent graduates, whether domestically or on an international basis, can be a smart move.
Not only do employers get the benefit of training the new hire the way that they want them to be trained without having to worry about previous workplace habits taking precedent, but they can also secure the type of loyalty that is so essential to retaining employees in these types of circumstances. That said, regardless of what type of position needs to be filled, both posting immigration ads and targeting recent graduates is a great way to add a fresh perspective to the workplace environment.
After all, diversity is the key to ensuring that a team is dynamic enough to stand up to any challenges they may come up against, and hiring from a younger pool of candidates can help an employer to stay on top of and in touch with the latest development. Recent graduates are not only affordable to hire, but also tend to be particularly adept at technology and using social media, and these types of skills will generally prove to be a boon to almost any kind of workplace environment.
Even better, many of the benefits of adding a fresh perspective can be magnified when it comes to targeting recent graduates through immigration labor advertising since these younger team members can contribute a different cultural viewpoint in addition to allowing for an intergenerational perspective.
However, when it comes to interviewing recent graduates, it can also be particularly difficult to get a clear picture of what to expect. After all, most recent graduates won’t have the relevant work history, job skills or recommendations that most recruiters rely on to get an accurate idea of the big picture, and if they do, they usually will not be particularly relevant.
As such, this type of interviewing process requires a little creativity on the part of the hiring parties in order to ensure that they know as much as they can about just who it is they are taking on and what they can expect. The good news is, the handy tips below will help arm recruiters with everything that they need to see the true potential of a candidate who is a recent graduate below. Read on to find out how.
Clarify the Interview Process
Depending on the type of position to be filled and the specific skills required for this position, the interviewer will not only want to prepare a targeted list of questions to ask but also help prepare the interviewee for the process beforehand.
This means not only laying down a clear, honest and unambiguous job description but also giving the candidate some direction in terms of the type of answers that will be expected from the questions. This will help make the process seem less intimidating so that the interview will be more likely to elicit a set of accurate responses.
That said, it is important for the interviewer to also be aware of a candidate’s body language throughout the interview. At times when they seem nervous or confused, be sure to follow up with a reworded version of the same question that may help them feel more comfortable and secure in their response.
Take Communication Skills with a Grain of Salt
If there is one type of skill set that tends to take time and practice to develop consistently, it has got to be communication skills.
Since recent graduates are generally not accustomed to dealing with high-pressure situations, it can be hard to get an accurate read on their communication skills from the interviewing process since nerves may cause any natural communication skills they already have in place to abandon them in the heat of the moment. Keep in mind that just because they choke up, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will not learn how to exercise more control in these types of situations once they become accustomed to the workplace environment.
Instead, try to zero in on communication skills near the end of the interview when the candidate will probably feel more relaxed. Rather than paying attention to the overall communication skills as a whole, notice whether they think out their responses before offering them, whether they seem to need a lot of time to process a question and what type of language they generally rely on. These details can help unlock clues as to more fundamental communication questions that may factor in the long run.
It is likewise important to remember that cultural differences can also factor heavily here, so anybody who is interviewing in response to immigration ads might certainly want to consider being a bit more forgiving in this department.
Zero in on Relevant Skills and Motivations
Those who have strong problem-solving skills will be much more likely to pick up on new or complicated tasks quickly, and thus, this is a skill-set that almost any type of employer should always be on the lookout. Grades and transcripts can be a good indicator here, as can any extra-curricular projects, awards or volunteer work.
That said, in order to mobilize their skills, they will also need to be able to organize their time effectively. Evidence of this can be found in maintaining after school jobs, as well as taking on any team-leadership positions that require a degree of dependability and responsibility.
That said, regardless of the specific skills that they possess, keep in mind that an employee who doesn’t actually want to be there will be of little use, particularly in the long term. This is why it is crucial to include some targeted questions that are designed to suss out relative motivation levels by asking not only how motivated they are to work in that particular environment, but also working to get an idea of where their general interests lie as well. If they are working in a field that they are already intrigued by, they are much more likely to stick around.
The Takeaway
Whether posting immigration ads or hiring on a domestic basis, learning how to effectively interview recent graduates can take some practice. However, the extra effort will almost certainly pay off in terms of not only opening up a much wider candidate pool but also enjoying all the many perks that come with adding a fresh perspective and a unique set of skills to the team.
