Guest Post: The Pros and Cons of Hiring Recent College Grads

We were gone for a while but now we're back again and better than ever with a guest post from Katie Wilson. Kate is a blogger and freelance writer for www.collegecrunch.org. She is passionate about all things education and is particularly interested in life after college in today's society. You can reach Kate in the comments below. Without further ado, here is Katie's post about the good and the bad of hiring recent college grads:
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The topic of recent college graduates and first-time employment has been a hot topic for some time now. With so many young 20-somethings emerging on the job market with freshly earned degrees and endless energy, unemployment numbers are all the more staggering. This topic is so hotly discussed today, because it is such a fundamental issue to our society. We go to college with presumption that our hard earned degree will lead us to the steady, paying job we've always dreamed of. While this assumption is slowing changing in light of recent economic struggles, the underlying concept remains—degrees lead to employment. But what is it exactly that newbie graduates bring to the table in the professional world? As hiring managers and human resources representatives, there are many reasons that fresh college graduates make strong job candidates and there are many reasons they may not fit for certain positions.
 

The Pros 

Recent college graduates bring a lot of positive things to the table when it comes to employment. Consider these positives when making your hiring decisions:

Tech Savvy: Having a strong familiarity with various forms of new technology is a must in today's work place. Today's college graduates are experts of the digital world. This is the first generation to have grown up completely immersed in technology. Learning new platforms, media, and programs is significantly easier for the younger generation because they've been adjusting to new technologies their entire lives. Having an affinity for technology and online communication is a huge positive in the professional world today.

Motivated and Energetic: Newbie grads are energetic and ready to work. They've just graduated from school. They're ready to be out of the classroom and active in the working world. This energetic student mentality can be a hugely positive thing in the professional world. Recent graduates will work the extra mile to make a statement, establish themselves, and grow. While "older", veteran employees will do this too, newbie graduates have extra motivation to "make it" because they are trying for the first time.

Masters of Multi-Tasking: Going hand-in-hand with understanding technology, because recent grads grew up with the internet and technology, most of them have mastered multi-tasking. Doing multiple things at one time is simply the way their brains work. This can be a very positive attribute in a busy and hectic workplace. Having to think on your feet and juggle multiple things at one time can be extremely useful in the right positions. Of course, this multi-tasking nature can also result in distracted and unfocused work. As a hiring manager or HR representative, it's important to carefully consider the type of position you're hiring for. 

 

The Cons 

While fresh college graduates offer a lot of positive things upfront, there are some setbacks young employees pose as well. Recent college graduates can pose some human resources concerns because their mindset is typically not a professional one. While this, of course, isn't universally true, many fresh grads can struggle with adjusting to a professional environment.

Youth Attitude: Many times the college graduate enters a work environment with an unprofessional attitude without really realizing it. These recent grads are used to making friends with the people they work with. The line between colleague and friend can be difficult to distinguish for a recent graduate. On top that, college grads entering the workforce today may suffer from a pretty hindered sense of confidence. After job searching for months and months on end, actually being confident in a new position can be a challenge. This lack of self-confidence can interfere with important job decisions and elements.

College Mantra: The "college mantra" can be a challenge for newbie graduates in the working world. Professional attire and attitude can be a struggle coming immediately from the realms of flip flops, late assignment requests, and college dorms. Part of that college mantra that follows many 20-somethings to the professional realm is a need for recognition and praise. Students are used to full attention from their professors. They get constant feedback from their professors and expect grades on their work to describe how successful they are doing. This is not the case in the professional world. Many recent college grads can struggle to understand their successfulness without regular recognition and feedback.