Three Ways New College Grads & Employers Can Achieve the Right Fit

As college seniors wrap up their academic careers, they’re  looking forward to finally entering the workforce with those hard-earned degrees in hand.

But for many of them, the first weeks and months at a new job could prove stressful and at times frustrating as they struggle to fit into their new company’s culture.

It’s exciting to be fresh out of college and launching the career you dreamed about for four years. Unfortunately, class work, internships, and work studies may not have completely prepared these students for the pressures and expectations of full-time employment. If they fail to adapt to the company culture, the graduates could end up with low morale and in turn, disappoint the employer, who was so excited about the new hire.

Luckily, both the employee and employer can take steps to improve the odds that this first job out of college is a shining success. Those steps include the following.

• Make sure this is the right fit 

The path to a smooth transition for an employee fresh out of college begins with the hiring process. Both the employer and the prospective employee need to feel that this will be a good fit. Otherwise, one or both parties may soon experience regret. Taking the time to find the exact match is well worth the time and energy. If you have any doubt, the answer is no.

• Understand the importance of benefits

A new college graduate might be tempted to grab the first opportunity and not pay much attention to the benefits the company offers. But to avoid a form of new-employee buyer’s remorse, they need to determine what benefits they consider a must and what’s not a priority for them. At the same time, a business can more successfully attract and keep the best people by offering a generous benefits package. Beyond retirement benefits, health benefits, and paid time-off, other benefits could include educational opportunities and rewards programs.

• Put a priority on wellness

It’s important that employees know that their company not only cares about their work, but also cares about their health and happiness. Meanwhile, those young employees accustomed to all-night parties and Ramen-noodle diets need to understand that maintaining good mental and physical health translates into a more satisfying life at work. If they take care of themselves — getting proper sleep, eating right, participating in hobbies that make them happy — they will perform better. Employers can do their part by promoting wellness, perhaps by offering nutritional snacks instead of donuts during meetings, and encouraging exercise.

The great thing from an employer’s standpoint is that these steps will not only help with any recent college students, but also with all employees no matter their experience.       

Kerry Alison Wekelo (www.kerryalison.com) is managing director of human resources and operations at Actualize Consulting. She is author of “Culture Infusion: 9 Principles to Create and Maintain a Thriving Organizational Culture.” Wekelo is also a yoga teacher, life coach, author of children’s books, and founder of Zendoway, a company that encourages holistic wellness.