Really interesting article discussing business leadership's thoughts on recent college graduates in the workforce.
As an EIC myself, (and as someone who's been interviewing recent college graduates for a data scientist role for the past three weeks) here are some thoughts and additional points I'd add:
1️⃣ - Recent college graduates: when looking for that first role, understand that your soft skills can (depending on the role) be just as, if not more important than your experience and hard skills. While there will always be outliers, most entry-level roles aren't (or shouldn't be) expecting you to have 5 years of experience and a PhD. So what else do they have to evaluate candidates on? Their communication and listening skills.
2️⃣ - Be friendly. This could go for all levels but I'm specifically looking at EICs who haven't had a lot of interview experience. Try to make your interviews a conversation: listen and respond to what your interviewer says, ask them questions (not just at the end as a formality), and be genuinely interested in their answers.
3️⃣ - The article stated: "94% of these leaders say they choose not to hire recent graduates if possible," citing a lack of work ethic and communication skills from recent college graduates. While the two-year gap of virtual school clearly had a large impact on college students who typically grow dramatically in their “people” skills and confidence through class discussions, clubs, and dorm life, I would be extremely hesitant to write off recent college graduates so quickly. There are all levels of work ethic and communication skills at all levels of the business. If I had a nickel for every time someone said "Can you believe they're an EIC?" to me over the past 6 months, I'd have about 30 cents. The leadership that I routinely interact with has been consistently impressed with the amazing EIC talent we have.
⭐ - For EICs: While some of this information might seem discouraging understand the stereotypes placed on recent college graduates and do what you can to show that you don't fit into them. Develop your communication skills, show that you can work hard, and practice consistent self-reflection.
⭐ - For corporate leadership: Though a training program specifically designed to develop EIC communication skills is a great start and can be beneficial to some, there will never be a one-size-fits-all solution. Poorly built programs can quickly turn into virtual training sessions that no one shows up to because they feel they aren't getting any value out of it. Communication capabilities differ among all levels of the business, so think about how you might tailor your program to your low EQ versus your high EQ EIC employees. Lastly, your EIC can have amazing and unexpected impacts on your business, give them the resources they need to succeed and you will be impressed.
Many business leaders will avoid hiring recent graduates due to a lack of soft skills—which is all the more reason to invest in training them. ServiceNow's Fredrick A. Scott, VP, early-in-career recruiting and talent acquisition and talent development DEI, discusses the growing importance of power skills in the workplace in Forbes. http://spr.ly/6048uCqZE
![4 Power Skills We Can't Take For Granted Anymore And How To Develop Them]()
4 Power Skills We Can't Take For Granted Anymore And How To Develop Them
forbes.com
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