Skip to main content

Bridging the Gap

Happy May! Congratulations to all those who are graduating.  Since we are in the midst of graduation season, I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the expectations of employers and new graduates.  Typically, employers and recent graduates have different sets of expectations upon entering the work force.  Therefore, it is necessary to bridge the gap between what is expected from new graduates and what is expected from employers.

Leadership, initiative, time management, goal setting, and organization are qualities that employers and hiring managers expect from new hires.  However, these expectations may be overwhelming and far too generalized for recent graduates unless specifically communicated.  In order to clearly communicate expectations, a suggestion would be to create a mentor program to help guide them through this new set of expectations.  The suggested mentor program can establish a relationship between a new employee and a trusted mentor within the company.  This training tool ensures that a new employee is learning company expectations from a professional. 

Another way to bridge the gap of expectations between employers and new graduates is to create a friendly environment that makes recent graduates feel comfortable.  The first week in the office needs to be a welcoming experience that gently eases the new graduate in to their role without overwhelming them with expectations.   One great way to initiate the first week of a new job is to have a staff lunch.  A staff lunch creates a relaxed setting which allows the new graduate to meet with fellow employees on a personal level.  Recent graduates must feel their colleagues and bosses are approachable in order to communicate with them their ideas, questions and concerns.

Recent graduates can be a tremendous asset to a company.  While seasoned professionals may have their practiced routines, a new graduate brings a fresh perspective to a company.  Most importantly, recent graduates need guidance in order to understand the company’s expectations while incorporating their own diverse perspective into their role.  Managing expectations while laying a solid foundation for new graduates to grow upon will determine how successful they will be for the company.  I encourage you all to practice patience as they learn so that you can help foster their growth.  After all, they are our future leaders.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

May the Force be With You!   We all know of the iconic Star Wars line "May the Force be With You."   H ow many times on May 4 th did we hear May the 4 th be with you ?   Star Wars is a cinematic treasure that has impacted millions of people for many years, and will for years to come. So what did it take to make such a deep and lasting impact? And what can be learned from this movie to assist us in making our own positive impact on others in our daily lives in this 9-5 grind? 1   1. Bring in your magic!                   Movies offer an escape from reality and a glimpse at the magic we once believed in as a child. We are unique beings with different skillsets, gifts, diverse backgrounds, and come with a unique set of experiences that make us different from others. Get to know your own “magic” and this will bring out the magic in others. Encourage dialogue. Promote uniqueness, offer a safe space for di...
Post a Comment
Read more

Coaching

Happy June!  Summer, here we come!  This month I want to discuss coaching .  I have talked before about utilizing a coach.  Now, I want to talk about being a coach.  I have been blessed with three different coaches across my nine-plus years with ProRecruiters.  They have challenged me to grow by evaluating what I’ve done and what I’m doing in order to determine what I will do going forward. Unfortunately, I do not always serve as a coach to my own team. Creating an environment in which you function as coach to your team benefits everyone. It helps you to see what’s working, what’s not, and potential areas of growth. It allows team members to discover their potential by being challenged to excel. It reveals potential problems while they are still “potential” problems.  And the cherry on top: it builds camaraderie throughout the team. As I have researched coaching, I’ve learned several foundational principles that must be in play if you want to cr...
Post a Comment
Read more
August Accountability  “A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” -Thomas Paine Accountability and humility are traits that one might not see as such a tenacious asset to have in the workplace.  More and more we hear of a "collective narcissism" sweeping the business world. Some say they are not surprised at this trend, and point fingers at a mainstream culture that supports unrealistic expectations, cutthroat competition, materialism, and self obsession.  I am sure we all have worked in organizations where the daily practices of dishonesty, blame-shifting, and gaslighting are an accepted artform, and clients are treated like commodities.  Whatever the cause of what seems to be an uprising in a culture of blame-shifting and un-accountability.. The house of cards is destined to crumble.  Fostering a Culture of Accountability  Though it seems like an extremely loft...
Post a Comment
Read more