The power of a working generation *Image credit: Shutterstock, Inc © Lasse Behnke

The power of a working generation *Image credit: Shutterstock, Inc © Lasse Behnke

There are three major problems facing the youth around the world today: Unemployment, Student Debt and Education.

Whether they’re being called Generation X, Y or something else for that matter, many of today’s youth are defined by these factors. Quite simply, the youth of today could be called ‘Generation Unemployed’, ‘Generation Debt’ or even ‘Generation Uneducated’.

So much so that all over the world there are graduates without work and with the added responsibility of massive student loans hanging over their heads.

The worker bee and trying to decipher the graduate employment market

According to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Global Financial Stability Report, the current global financial status is a balancing act of sorts.

This means it’s in the best interest of businesses to generate as much business / revenue as they can, thus creating the ability to employ individuals. Further, it is important to realise that many people cannot afford to quit their jobs. This often means if there’s a large exit of staff, they’re often leaving for reasons out of their control – in other words, retrenchment and retirement.

Contradictory to the popular culture of technology – the physical approach to recruitment is one of the planets biggest methods of sourcing talent.

For many years companies have been talent scouting at various college and university campuses, an ongoing trend that has presented a number of positive results! FirstStep.me discusses this first phase of recruitment with Karen Mudaly of EY (South Africa).
 
Why is the presence of a company at a University or College career day so important and why is it still a positive process? It is an opportunity to meet hundreds of students from a large pool of individuals whom attend with an open invitation. Presenting an excellent marketing and branding strategy for firms, allowing for a sharing of knowledge and a number of service offerings that students are unaware of. Hence, it is a direct point of contact, for an immediate recruitment action - an excellent source of attracting some of the best talent.

That competitive edge: The evolution of the good grad **Image credit: Shutterstock, Inc © Sergey Nivens

The world used to be a much simpler place when compared to the hi-tech, on the go multi-media global village we find ourselves in today. Before the Nintendo Game Boy, the rise of the Internet and the growth of graduate recruitment programmes things were, well, just simple.

The Good Grad - back to basics and managing expectations Image source: istockphoto.com

 The Good Grad - back to basics and managing expectations Image source: istockphoto.com

With Karen Mudlay

As a graduate program develops the Good Grad emerges as a strong candidate for future leadership. It seems the key is getting the basics right and managing expectations…

After three to four years (perhaps more) of university life, individuals are often set in their ways. What are the best ways for Grads to make a transition from a university (or college) environment into a corporate one? Grads should stay open to learning as much as they can - ask questions and surround themselves with people they can learn from. They are going to make contact with people of all ages, with many years of experience and a wider range of education. Therefore they will need to adopt an open-minded approach to learning and service delivery. The working life of a consultant will require flexibility, be prepared to go the extra mile by putting in the necessary extra hours .