What to look for when assessing graduates

Graduates bring many strengths to the workforce and to our organization. It is essential to understand what kind of support they need in order to develop.

Graduates’ strengths include taking initiative and assuming responsibility, creative thinking to solve problems, and analyzing data to make informed recommendations and decisions. These skills provide a good foundation in today’s work environment and the digital age, as there are masses of complex information to be dealt with, we also have to contextualize them and draw conclusions.

So what are the skills that need development for graduates? It’s mostly the ability to work in teams effectively and to persuade others. The increased interdependence of work and stronger emphasis on the customer experience makes it necessary for them to form productive relationships and influence others. Work experiences provide opportunities to develop these skills and acquire knowledge from colleagues.

Confidence and self-sufficiency

The ability to adapt is crucial in a fast-changing digital world. We can support graduates to increase their resilience to change and uncertainty, which is even more significant during the pandemic. 54% of graduates feel that the transition from college to work is a struggle and they feel anxious, exhausted and lost.

They might also need help with connecting business priorities and personal contribution to determine business outcome. It is crucial to impart clear guidance with our organizational mission and values. This way the worker can link their own values with ours, and it also gives them a sense of purpose. Clear values and duties provide constancy in an uncertain environment.

Entering the work market is not easy, therefore it is our task to deliver support for graduates. This can be achieved by understanding their strengths, development areas and needs.

The original blogpost can be accessed here.