Hiring the Best: Tips for Finding Top Grads
With graduation day approaching, employers are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to cull through this year’s crop of college standouts. But without experience in the field, it can be tricky to determine if the college grad is bound for success or better left alone. Bill Merchant, Manager of Client Development at Sterling Management Resources, offers some strategies for ensuring your college recruit has what it takes to be a winner.
Ask and You Shall Receive
Structuring interview questions to ferret out as much information as possible is one of the best ways to see if you’ve got a plum pick or a piece of rotten fruit on your hands. Include questions to really get at how your candidate accomplished all he or she did. A great question to start with is “How was your education funded?” The answer to this question can reveal determination and work ethic.
Make sure to find out what attracted the candidate to his or her major. This will give you insight into which areas he or she might excel in and those that might be a struggle. Additionally, ask questions about the future, namely, what position does the candidate hope to be groomed for? Or what position does she or he hope to have in three to five years? These help to assess applicants’ commitment, drive and sense of purpose.
It’s especially valuable to ask about perceived accomplishments, as well as a time that applicants failed. How a potential new-hire handled a failing situation provides perspective into his or her character and ability to cope with difficulties.
Have recruits tell you about any service organizations or clubs they belonged to and the positions held in the organizations. This will give you a solid understanding of leadership ability and commitment to community service.
Recruiting Ideas
Looking for a recent graduate to fill a position in your company? Seek a referral from the director of your local university’s career center: these individuals always know who the stellar students are because top students start career searching long before graduation. Chances are they’ll have a list of possible candidates for you. Also, contact Department Chairs because they also know top students in their departments.
References: Know Where to Look
Employers can find good references for students if they know whom to ask. Professors can offer excellent information about students’ determination and drive for success. They will often have first-hand knowledge about how bright a student is and what his or her goals are. Intern supervisors can share information on how candidates performed in the work environment.
Make sure to talk with previous employers, even if the work had nothing to do with the job available in your company. Former bosses and supervisors can provide key information like how timely the employee was and how hard he or she worked. Finally, always check personal reference to flesh out information about personality and character from people who may know the candidate best. |
