How your company can attract the top UAE graduates

With no familial commitments, lower salary expectations and an eagerness to learn and contribute fresh ideas, new grads have proven to be a good investment for any company. And with hiring time approaching ...

With no familial commitments, lower salary expectations and an eagerness to learn and contribute fresh ideas, new grads have proven to be a good investment for any company. Silvia Razgova / The NationalShow less

Graduation season has begun and a flood of fresh-faced, entry-level talent will soon be entering the workforce. Companies in the UAE gearing up to attract new graduates for entry-level positions will have to compete to get the best and brightest from the class of 2016 on their teams. With no familial commitments, lower salary expectations and an eagerness to learn and contribute fresh ideas, new grads have proven to be a good investment for any company.

So how can your organisation get an edge in hiring fresh graduates this year? What are some of the key factors to take into consideration? And what are UAE graduates looking for in their first job? Here are five ways to attract and hire top graduate talent this year:

1. Project a good corporate image

Millennials are an enthusiastic generation who want to see and feel that their work is part of a greater purpose. Your company needs to show that it exists for something that goes beyond mere profitability, and that what you do contributes directly towards the general good of the world we live in. In your job descriptions, emphasise your company’s values, vision and mission, and commitment to supporting the lives of people you serve. Promote your CSR activities: any youth outreach programs, eco-friendly initiatives or community welfare projects. According to the Bayt.com 2013 poll on corporate social responsibility, 90 per cent of respondents believe that CSR is a moral responsibility that all companies should have towards the local community, and 95 per cent feel it’s important that their company is socially responsible.

2. Understand their culture

Young professionals today are willing to work hard, but they grew up hearing that a good work-life balance is crucial to their happiness and overall productivity. When they ask about time off or their daily schedule, don’t consider these a sign of laziness; instead, understand the world they live in. New graduates are likely to ask about wellness programmes, if they can work from home on occasion, and the dress code. Don’t pass up a great employee because of old paradigms. Understand how they view the world and create a job that caters to them. Graduates want to work at a company where they feel inspired, motivated and encouraged to succeed. Embrace an employee-centric culture, which promotes a fun and creative environment, and emphasise the importance of transparency, honest communication and recognition. Highlight what makes your company stand out from the rest. Those that have just stepped out of university look for flexi-hours, award programmes, office celebrations and open workspaces, and are attracted to being part of such a culture.

3. Provide clear career paths and growth opportunities

Graduates don’t just want a chance to learn and grow; they expect it. Offering long-term development opportunities will put your company a cut above the competition. Present them with a clear career path and show them that there is, in fact, ample room at your company to learn and develop their careers, and climb the corporate ladder. Remember, it’s not just about high salaries. Bayt.com’s Fresh Graduates in the Mena survey found almost half of UAE respondents consider experience in their field as the most important attribute when selecting a job. A high salary comes at only 10 per cent.

4. Leverage online hiring

Millennials are digital natives, so it’s no surprise they’re using digital tools and platforms to look for work. Therefore employers need to go where their future employees are, that means ramping up digital investments in the recruitment experience. Create a cutting-edge website for your company. Make sure it is up-to-date, useful and contains all the information they need. Engage with graduates on your online profiles and professional networking platforms. Use the internet to advertise your job vacancies and send job alerts. Corporate videos and a photo gallery are also great ways to advertise your culture and grab the attention of young talent looking for a great work environment and top job assignments.

5. Display an entrepreneurial spirit

Our research has shown that millennials are increasingly interested in running their own business. Whether this is due to the economy or other factors, it is clear that entrepreneurship in the Mena region has grown. As a result, top graduates are coached to shop carefully and they will want to ensure their first job is one that gives them the learning and growth they crave and the ability and freedom to control their fate and contribute their own ideas and perspectives. They will want to hear of generous induction and orientation programmes, internal and online and third party training provisions, coaching, mentoring, buddy programmes, even book clubs, luncheon seminars and educational allowances. In addition, companies are encouraged to support flexible working, as well as gather the resources to create smaller, more specialised teams. Companies are also advised to shed traditional performance reviews in favour of more transparent, real-time feedback.

Lama Ataya heads the marketing department at the Middle East job site Bayt.com.

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