So you’ve decided you want to look at recruiting a student with the mind-set of growing talented long-term employees. However, you’re faced with challenges – how can you reach them? How can you guarantee that they’re the right fit for your business? We’ve listed a few sure-fire ways to ensure you recruit the best students and graduates for your business.
Present your brand through social media
99 percent of 16-24-year-olds in the UK are on social media and with half a million people in this age category unemployed in the UK as of November 2023, it’s the perfect place to engage with student and graduate talent. Time Doctor lists Effective social media strategies encompass several key tactics that can enhance your recruitment efforts. These include establishing your brand presence on appropriate social media platforms and using various mediums like social ads and live video streams to differentiate your communication style from competitors'.
It's crucial to tailor your approach to resonate with students and highlight your company's unique working experience.
Micro-placements
Short-term work experience can be an easy way to persuade students that once they have graduated, working for your business is the best option for them, as well as ascertain if they fit into your business culture.
Micro-placements are usually for a short period of just a few weeks, giving the student enough time to participate in various aspects of your business and get a feel for how it runs. It can be a good introduction to your business while saving you the time and resources that a full placement might incur.
Face-to-face meetings
There’s no better way to recruit a student than through meeting them face to face. This can take place through running open days at your business or participating in University Careers fairs, which are free and enable you to meet with a large number of students in one go.
Birmingham City University runs a variety of industry-focused careers fairs, giving you access to students from a wide range of disciplines. If you have a specific skills gap in your business, enquire to see if there is a Careers Fair matching your needs.
Social selling
Like the look of a student or graduate’s LinkedIn profile? There is no harm in reaching out to them directly through direct messages and asking them if they’re interested in finding out more about the opportunities in your business. Rather than just posting an advert anonymously, this gives the individual an opportunity to ask any questions candidly and meet you face-to-face if needed.
You can easily build a rapport with a potential candidate without the need for extra resource and time. While you may think this is only a strategy for larger businesses, it may be a free and easy way for your small business to introduce its mission and values to new talent.
This piece is authored by Ruth Claxton – Creative Director at STEAMhouse
