Comparing Candidates: Should You Hire Experienced Workers or Recent College Graduates?

Should you hire recent college graduates or experienced workers?

There are risks and benefits associated with hiring experienced workers and recent college graduates. New grads are often affordable, flexible and motivated, but it may cost your business more time and money to train them properly. Meanwhile, experienced workers have the knowledge and expertise that new grads lack, but they can cost more and resist change.

“Experienced professionals present with and often bring valuable skills and confidence, but can sometimes assume they know it all and forget [that] every job isn’t one-size-fits-all,” explained April Taylor, financial coach and founder of Jr. Moguls. “Recent grads offer fresh ideas and energy, but they may also think their education means they’re fully prepared. Both can fall into the trap of thinking they have all the answers.”

To some degree, hiring the right employee for your business will vary on a case-by-case basis, but there are a few scenarios in which one type of applicant may be better than the other.

The best time to hire a recent college graduate is when you:

• Are filling an entry-level position.
• Have a limited budget for employee wages.
• Have the time and resources to train, mentor and develop the employee to do things in a particular manner.
• Want an employee who brings a fresh perspective to your company or industry.
• Want an employee who knows the latest industry trends and techniques.
• Want a flexible and adaptable employee who is eager to learn.

The best time to hire an experienced worker is when you:

• Are filling a mid- to senior-level position.
• Are filling a role that requires a deep level of knowledge, skills and expertise.
• Want an employee who comes with an established professional network.
• Are hiring for a complex role that requires immediate results.
• Don’t have the time or resources to provide the new employee with extensive training.
• Want an employee with leadership qualities and can act as a mentor to other workers.

Before making any hiring decision, carefully consider the candidate as a whole and what that individual can contribute. In addition to identifying how well the employee aligns with the job description, be sure to evaluate soft skills and cultural fit when hiring.

“It is important that the person hiring has a clear vision of what the company is looking for in this hire,” said Dr. Jason Helfrich, co-founder of 100% Chiropractic. “Is fresh, young energy with a strong understanding of current trends what is needed? Or, are you looking for the experience required to help develop young talent and navigate a company through current challenges and opportunities that the experienced professional has seen many times before?”

Benefits and disadvantages of hiring recent college graduates

While hiring new grads can benefit your business, learning about the pros and cons before adding them to your payroll is crucial. [Read related: Hiring for Attitude: What the Numbers Show]

Benefits

Here are some advantages of hiring a recent college graduate to work for your organization:

• Motivation for growth: Job seekers who are fresh out of college are often eager to jump into their careers and learn the tricks of the trade. This type of energy and motivation is not only great for building company morale but can also lead them to be more proactive in learning and taking on new projects. “The right young grad will … offer a high level of energy and drive as they look to launch their career and pay off their student debt,” Helfrich said.
• Up-to-date skills: New college graduates are well-versed in the current trends in their field. Since they just spent the past four to six years learning the newest guidelines and techniques, they can bring this knowledge to your company. This is especially important if rules and regulations in your industry frequently change, or if your industry heavily relies on social media or advanced technology. “Having grown up with phones, technology and social media, we find new grads have a thorough understanding [of] these departments and can offer significant advantages with everything from social media campaigns, utilizing influencers and overall understanding of technology-driven management of the business,” Helfrich noted.
• Lower wages: If you hire a new graduate, you can offer a much lower salary than you would with an experienced applicant. Most college graduates will be grateful to have the opportunity to gain experience in exchange for a lower starting salary. This is an excellent way for companies to save money on their employee compensation packages.
• Trainable employees: Another advantage is that employees with little to no experience won’t have predeveloped habits that you need to reform. Instead, you can teach them to do things according to your company’s specific methods. “Early career hires … exude fresh perspectives and a real desire to learn and grow,” Taylor said. “Industries that welcome early-career hires tend to foster a culture of support, and they become long-term employees who are committed and loyal.”
• Availability and flexibility: Although this isn’t true for all new grads ― especially with many individuals going back to college later in life ― many recent college graduates have flexible schedules and availability. Young job seekers are less likely to have as many responsibilities as older, more seasoned job seekers, which is ideal if you need them to work longer hours or potentially relocate. “Travel and promotions are often welcomed by young professionals as they look for ways to fast forward their growth and development,” Helfrich said.

Disadvantages

Here are some disadvantages of hiring a recent college graduate to work for your organization:

• Lack of experience: A recent Intelligent.com survey found that 63 percent of employers who’ve worked with recent college graduates say they frequently can’t handle their workload. Although new grads may come with college-learned knowledge, they lack the experience that their seasoned counterparts have acquired. This means you may need to spend more time training them and managing their performance when they first start. It’s important to note that this is often not too much of a burden if you have competent new hires, as they can learn and adapt quickly. “It’s best to evaluate the skills of the candidates as well as [identify] their values and what excites them,” Taylor said. “The decision must be carefully decided in consideration of the organization’s short and long-term goals.”
• Investment in training: Newly minted employees require a significant investment in training, especially if you operate in a field that requires extensive knowledge. The Intelligent.com study also shows that, according to the surveyed employers, many recent grads lack basic professionalism (57 percent) and communication skills (52 percent) ― so these may be additional areas you need to train them on. If the new grad doesn’t work out, then your company may potentially lose thousands of dollars.
• Higher turnover: Job hopping has become a common behavior in young employees, especially for those just starting their careers. When you hire a recent grad, there is always the possibility that they are using you to gain experience to get further in their career. This can result in a higher turnover rate for your company. “Many managers and owners can be frustrated by the new motivators that this group brings,” Helfrich explained, noting that younger employees often prioritize benefits like greater flexibility and remote work. For more traditional companies or those with limited remote work options, this inability to meet the candidates’ expectations can lead to faster employee turnover.

Benefits and disadvantages of hiring experienced workers

Before you hire seasoned workers, it is just as essential to know the pros and cons of doing so. 

Benefits

These are some advantages of hiring an experienced professional to work for your organization:

• Know-how: Since seasoned workers come with years of experience, it is likely that you won’t need to spend as much time or money training them. This can result in immediate productivity for your business. “The experienced professional brings a level of experience in coping with situations that will help a company navigate today’s challenges, having seen many similar situations prior in their career,” Helfrich said.
• Independent workers: Experienced professionals know how to operate in the workplace, which means they will likely require less hand-holding from management.
• Industry knowledge: Through their years of working in the industry, these employees have developed an arsenal of knowledge and expertise. In addition to utilizing these skills in the workplace, they can also help educate less experienced employees. “The ideal mix is a balance of experienced professionals teaching the young, hungry professionals the ropes, all while learning cutting-edge trends and methods of operation from the young professionals,” Helfrich said.
• Promotable employees: Experienced workers can adapt to the position they are hired for quickly, especially if it is a role that they have performed before. This often allows them the ability to quickly level up and possibly be promoted to a more senior position.
• Long-term retention: Compared to graduates who might be exploring career options, experienced professionals are more likely to stay with a company for longer periods, reducing hiring and training costs associated with frequent turnover. Helfrich noted that experienced professionals are generally more accustomed to the demands of long in-office hours and may prioritize job stability over flexibility, often appreciating “the 40-50 hour workweek and in-office environment.” 

Disadvantages

These are some of the potential downsides of introducing an experienced professional into your team:

• High cost: According to a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the average starting salary for graduates in the class of 2023 is $64,291. Many seasoned professionals will expect to be paid much more. Those with experience expect and deserve to be paid for the years of sweat equity they invested in developing their skills. This means that you need to budget for a higher starting salary when hiring an experienced professional.
• Resistance to change: Some experienced employees who transition to your company may have difficulty adapting to new procedures and processes. “We’ve always done it this way” is a common phrase uttered by those resistant to change. “I think all industries are prime for some young talent to provide a perspective on the younger customer that may not be there with the experienced professional,” Helfrich noted. “Likewise, a good balance of experienced professionals is needed to connect with the ‘experienced generation’ to best provide a company with the best understanding of its total market.”
• Obsolete methods: Many employers assume that just because someone has great experience in a certain field, they will be best suited for the job. This isn’t always true. Some experienced workers may have outdated skills that need to be refreshed. “While many are as tech savvy as the young grad, it is also possible that tech is not the experienced professional’s strong suit, and this may slow productivity in certain cases,” Helfrich noted. 

Why not consider both?

Ultimately, the decision to hire a seasoned professional versus a recent college graduate will depend on what your team needs and what the candidate has to offer. The most important consideration is whether you believe they are the best fit for the job. “Hire talent when it comes your way,” Helfrich said. “Find room for this talent and they will help you achieve goals and grow in many ways.”

Skye Schooley and Alex Vanover contributed to the reporting and writing in this article.