Graduate Recruitment: A Short-Term Solution with Long-Term Benefits

With budget constraints, talent shortages and high staff turnover causing perpetual problems in the public sector, recruitment is always a tricky topic. Thanks to our unique model, Unijobs aims to offer a solution, delivering expert, temporary recruitment for the public sector as a shared, non-profit service. Whether you need to fill a single role or staff a major project, we can provide fast, flexible solutions – often by sourcing graduate candidates that present a perfect match for your vacancy. 

In our experience, hiring graduates is the perfect way to source hardworking and adaptable team members for temporary jobs across the sector. These ambitious young professionals have a lot to offer, often providing a cost-effective solution in challenging positions. So, with value always front of mind, we thought we’d explore some of the benefits, both short- and long-term, of hiring graduates for your next vacancy.

Fill critical gaps with fresh skills

Adaptability and a willingness to learn make graduates the perfect solution for short-term public sector jobs. Their motivation and keen attitude can be harnessed to provide a dynamic solution, filling critical gaps with fresh skills. 

Not only do they bring new perspectives that could inject new life or increased efficiency into your project, but they are also free of the ingrained habits that can come with more experienced hires. In this sense, think of graduate hires as a blank canvas, open to new ways of working, and eager for the new experiences your organisation has to offer them. 

Far from being unskilled, however, graduates are also equipped with sound business skills. Clear communication, problem solving, teamwork, presentation, and data analysis are key attributes developed during graduate level study. Add to this the solid technical skills of a digital native and a familiarity with the latest industry tools and practices, and you have a candidate that can make an instant impact to address your immediate needs effectively.

Source budget friendly solutions 

In the public sector where finances are often constrained, hiring graduates on a short-term basis is also cost-effective. Entry-level wages are typically lower than for experienced hires, offering a budget-friendly option without compromising on talent. In Ireland, the average starting salary for graduates is around €39,024 per year, however temporary workers are an interim solution, so they don’t always require a fixed annual salary. 

Unlike a permanent employee, you can hire when the need arises, in response to specific events or project needs. This means you’ll generally incur fewer costs, and since graduates are often aiming to get their first taste of employment, they are often happy to take junior roles while still delivering on talent. This can be especially beneficial when you need to tighten discretionary spending. 

Finally, with graduates often quick to adapt to organisational demands and eager to gain practical experience, they are able to adapt to rapid onboarding requirements for short-term roles, making this another saving over extensive training periods.

Evaluate long-term potential

In a short-term role, graduate candidates bring a project-focused mindset, providing temporary staffing solutions to meet key objectives with limited supervision. In many cases, this innovative approach can help government organisations tackle modern challenges fast, but there is also potential for long-term benefits. 

Temporary work provides a valuable assessment window, allowing you to evaluate graduates for long-term positions. It’s a non-committal way to see how someone fits in your organisation. If the match is good, you can then offer them a full-time position. 

Naturally, many employers are worried about graduate retention. According to the Institute of Student Employers in the UK, the average length of stay in a first job is just under 4.5 years. That might seem like a short time frame for return on investment, but the better the match, the more likely your graduate employee is to stay put – all of which makes a short-term graduate hire a great way to minimise potential losses and build a successful team. 

Access to a high-calibre graduate pool

Overall, graduates are a resourceful solution for the public sector, offering flexibility, fresh insights, and efficient performance in temporary roles, along with the potential to develop into productive long-term employees. All of these factors make hiring graduates a cost-effective solution, but at Unijobs we take that one step further. 

Our innovative model means all candidates are employed by Unijobs, so we handle the associated administration, contracts, and payroll for short-term employees. This provides a hassle-free way to find the graduates you need, and if things work out we also offer a transfer-fee waiver, which saves our clients approximately €1.15 million in transfer fees. 

With access to a pool of high-calibre candidates catering for a variety of roles, Unijobs make graduate hires a flexible solution with the potential to deliver benefits both now, and in the future. Get in touch with us today to learn more.