Targeting fresh talent: wily ways to hook new graduates

It takes an extra special, freshers-week-grade cocktail to attract fresh talent to your vacant positions.

But, the rewards can be HUGE.

We've got your back. Check out these handy tips and tools:

What's the big hoo-ha about new graduates?

Well, it depends who you ask. But, there’s a whole bunch of reasons why you should want the brightest and best graduates sitting at your company’s desks. Here's a handful of them:

• Graduates cost less to hire – Ka-Ching!
• Their mega minds are ready and waiting to be moulded
• They’re baggage-free – no bad habits to break from their previous company
• They're tech savvy and clued up on the latest trends
• They're well practised in all sorts of handy skills, like researching and presenting
• You'll be bringing in fresh blood, keen to impress

Yep, those keen bean graduates will deliver a decent ROI in no time at all.

Tips and tools for luring in those eager new grads

But, they won't just come because you've built it. You need to figure out how to get those graduates through your door.

Here's a cheeky li'l intro:

Vibe with Millennial values

It's time to face it. Millennials just have a different set of values:

• 83% will pick a job based on employee benefits
• 54% will choose one based on flexible hours and salary
• 64% just want to make the world a better place (awwww!)
• 79% want their boss to be like a sports coach for jobs, whatever that means ...
• ... and 72% are would-be Lord Sugars who just want to be their own boss

(Stats courtesy of Business Insider and Forbes)

Stick these values at the centre of everything you do when hiring, and you won't go far wrong.

Check your employer brand's in vogue

You need a strong employer brand that speaks directly to new graduates.

In theory, it's a piece of cake. Just tell job seekers why your company rocks. In practice, there's a lot of stuff that's often missed out, leaving grads unsure how your awesome company is any different to the dull dudes down the road who are offering a bit more moolah.

When putting together a job ad for a graduate position, talk about things like career development, work-life balance and social meet-ups. Post loads of pictures of your team, and a few videos that'll help them get to grips with your company culture.

Hint: keep a close eye on those employer review pages – any grad worth their salt is going to check them out.

Get psyched for social media recruitment

Don't just wait for bright new grads to stumble across your job ad or careers site. Get out there and sniff them out. Where? On social media of course.

LinkedIn's seen as the go-to resource for job seekers. But, grads don't have the experience to fill up their profiles and get spotted by recruiters.

Try other platforms, like Twitter and Instagram. Facebook's just introduced a new job ad feature that'll surely shake things up. Post on there and grads will see your job appear in their newsfeed, and you can get a handle on their personalities when they apply.

Try out these techniques to attract new grads and start reaping the rewards of a mouldable, motivated workforce. Happy grad hunting!