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GREAT GRADUATE DEVELOPMENT IDEAS
In 2010, Talent & Potential ran an AGR Conference session called 50 Great Graduate Development Ideas – and two years on, it remains the one that generates most interest and enquiries. We present a short digest of some of the best ideas we’ve seen to date in graduate development.
Idea 1. Add graduate calibre people to your scheme A sweet manufacturer ran a programme that included both graduates, and graduate calibre people who had been with them for several years. The qualifying process allowed graduate calibre people to demonstrate their drive, and willingness to drive a new initiative. The graduate calibre participants brought political nous and work ethic to the scheme, and the graduates brought ‘attack’ – the ability to challenge upwards, and interact confidently with senior management. Both learned from the others’ strengths – a win for everyone! This is an alternative to a full-fledged professional apprentice scheme.
Idea 2. Blogs on practicalities HSBC actively built loyalty and interest between offer and induction. Previous years’ graduates blogged on a range of articles like ‘What it’s like to wear a suit every day?’ The aim was to introduce graduates to the challenges and differences of the work world, and infect new graduates with the enthusiastic and resilient approach of their top graduates as they tackled these challenges.
Idea 3. Google alerts At offer, encourage your graduates to set up Google alerts on the company, key competitors, and projects they may be working on. They will get a daily or weekly digest of newspaper and internet articles on the subject. Graduates will absorb information at a time when they are hungry to learn – and will ask great questions at induction.
Anne Hamill
Managing Director of Talent & Potential Ltd.
Idea 4. Chaotic induction Graduates need to move from the stable world of education to actively managing the chaotic world of work. A timetabled induction can create false illusions of structure, leading to disappointment when the workplace is very different. We worked with a government agency to create self-directed induction, which got graduates to take an active role in creating a successful induction.
16 GRADUATE RECRUITER
They were responsible for phoning up, meeting and greeting guests, organising transport from hotels, clearing rooms. Graduates commented that when they entered work the next week, they already knew how to approach people in order to learn from them.
Idea 5. Learning challenges at induction When you set graduates learning challenges at induction – make them accountable for an output. Can they interview stakeholders at a site visit, or interview people in different parts of the business - then use their company log in and hot desk to create and print a report for the whole group? Can they create an exhibition on their learning and take their manager round it? Can they produce a phone video on key points, which they’ll show to managers? Can graduates who are one year in, organise an entire day of induction? Seeing graduates a year ahead running induction means new graduates are less likely to fall into the consumer mindset.
Idea 6. Personal impact training Top graduates will have the abilities to progress rapidly, but a handicap is often their obvious youth and hesitance. An engineering and services company runs a session on personal impact at induction – covering dress codes, advice on personal style of dress to maximise impact, body language, and how to make an impact at meetings. Graduates are also given a ‘golden hello’ to buy their work wardrobe afterwards. Result – graduates gained more confidence and gravitas, and senior managers were very impressed by the immediate impact of the graduates.
Idea 7. Train graduates to receive feedback well Graduates are used to getting regular As on their assignments. They often falter at work, where feedback is often not given unless you ask for it. Why not train your graduates in how to seek and receive feedback in a way that impresses? You can also provide materials that provide a focus for feedback. We provide clients with
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