7 Benefits of Hiring New Talent Over Experienced Pros

There was a Great article in Fast Company this week by Amit Chauhan that may spell hope for recent college graduates still seeking that first gig – and for companies looking for fresh ideas.

The author notes that there’s a lot of new and ambitious talent to choose from – which is great news for employers and the economy. Some hesitate to hire fresh new grads because it sometimes results in some additional handholding and lengthier onboarding. I work with one company that actually prefers hiring recent college graduates to experienced professionals most of the time because the new grads don’t have any bad habits from other cultures that don’t align with the company’s philosophy. With 1stGig, we call this “uncontaminated” thoughts.

So, if you’re in the market for some fresh thinking, check out Chauhan’s 7 benefits of hiring new talent.

1. Less Likely to Engage in Office Politics

Office politics are not fun to deal with. Newer professionals haven’t been in the workforce long enough to know this even exists. They aren’t tainted by true or false rumors. They are not a part of any one group within the office and they offer a non-judgmental perspective of everyone on the team. Win/win/win.

2. Cultivate The Right Type Of Employee

Getting the chance to mold a new professional rather than training them to adjust or completely discard pre-conceived habits and notions is powerful. Similar to hiring within, employers are able to foster their own culture and develop their employees the way that works well for them.

3. Innovate By Taking Risks

New pros are hungry to innovate and aren’t afraid to take a risk. With less prior experience and likely no mortgage or children to take care of, new professionals have a lot less on the line. They are sponges ready to soak up knowledge and are much more apt to go for things where more experienced pros would hesitate.

4. Engage Tomorrow’s Leaders Today

The more than 39 million students and recent college graduates on LinkedIn are the professional network’s fastest-growing demographic. That’s no accident. New pros are the leaders of tomorrow, but cost a lot less to recruit than experienced pros. Smart companies know they need to engage with them early on to secure their position within the company as they grow and advance in their careers.

5. Natural Aptitude For Technology

According to a white paper by comScore, four out of every five Millennials own a smartphone, compared to just two out of three 35- to 54-year-olds. This generation has always been eager to adopt the newest gadget and technologies, which makes them extremely valuable team members for employers. They are also personally involved with and motivated by the most recent trends within technology. Their way of life caters to the evolving consumer, and they can pick up new technology in a matter of minutes.

6. Recent Math Classes Cater To Data Crunching

Recent graduates retain fresh knowledge from college-level math courses and therefore have an easier time using it for business needs. As data becomes a necessity to drive high-level decisions within companies, this skill is crucial.

7. Take Them For A Test Drive

The temporary intern work arrangement gives employers the chance to make sure these new hires fit within the company. This is generally one of the hardest things to determine during the interview process and can only be realized after they begin working with fellow employees. For employers running a good internship program, the cost of ramping up should be minimal, and interns should never have the expectation of a full-time job after the program ends.

Great tips from Amit Chauhan. Here’s another tip for connecting with those recent grads with all those fresh ideas: 1stGig. Whether you’re seeking career connections or work in the human resources department for companies who hire recent graduates, 1stGig.com is a great place to find each other. Recent graduates, or Potentials, simply fill out a profile while companies provide specific details of what they’re hoping to find in a new employee. When there’s a 100% match, the Potential reaches out to the company to learn more. Check it out.