The year 2023 has brought several new opportunities for freshers. However, in the recent years, there have been a lot of changes in dynamics and operational standards of companies, thanks to the global pandemic and economic fluctuations. In the corporate world, things are very different from what they used to be. Many old processes have changed including how HR recruits freshers. Employment practices have changed and so have hiring trends. 

Freshers, as new hires bring unparalleled dedication to the job and are instrumental in driving a company’s growth. Most freshers are added through campus hiring which is a great way to identify untapped talent, establish important relationships with prestigious universities, engage in a long-term workforce and advance diversity in the workplace all at once. Let us look at a few trends that are in vogue now.

Employer branding

Employer branding is a vital hiring trend for 2023. It plays a critical role in attracting the right candidates from the job market, streamlining the hiring process, fostering trust, and cultivating a culture of talent retention within the organization. It also contributes the candidate’s perspective before joining the company. Freshers  tend to match their own ethical standards with the ethics, corporate principles, and personality attributes of the company. Therefore, employee branding is very critical to attracting potential employees.  Talented hires seek out companies that share their beliefs and therefore employer branding is an important tool to communicate that.

Use of social media platforms

Several companies have begun using social media to hire freshers and social media is being used extensively by freshers to research organizations and identify jobs. Social networking is used by recruiters to connect with candidates and advertise jobs.  This is a trend that will continue and attract the best talent easily. GenZ and millennial candidates are chronically online, hence it’s crucial for organizations to be active on social media to attract young talent

AI recruitment

Several companies have started using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance their recruitment process. AI can be effectively used to complete repetitive tasks like candidate screening, reviewing resumes and many other things. Using AI in recruitment saves both time and money and helps recruiters focus on more critical activities. Use of AI in recruitment is increasing and 2023 will see boom in its use in fresher recruitment.

Virtual hiring

Due to the pandemic, organizations had to convert practically all recruitment procedures to the virtual mode. It is highly affordable and saves a huge amount of time. It has an added advantage that distanced candidates can also be included in the candidate pool thanks to these virtual tools. The responses and comparisons of candidates can be done easily using virtual methods. The only problem with virtual hiring can be the lack of human connection. Virtual tools can be used for recruitment, screening, and onboarding remote fresher candidates effectively. This also includes communicating company culture and policies using the benefits of technology. 

Recruiting for soft skills

While hiring freshers, there is a strong focus on soft skills. Ideally, we look for both hard and soft skills. The ability of an individual to function well in any circumstance is broadly defined as soft skill. This includes bringing a positive attitude and ability to overcome odds and in the recent years during the pandemic, this has come into focus quite heavily. Companies are looking for candidates that can reason critically and solve challenges. Both hard and soft skills will become important for any role going forward.

Diversity and inclusion

New recruits place a lot of importance on diversity and inclusion when they look for a place to work in. Companies must implement strategies to include a highly diverse workforce and this must penetrate the recruitment process as well in order to attract a diverse workforce. This includes not only ethnic and racial diversity but also diversity in skills, background, and experiences. The recruitment practices must be able to identify and target a more diverse workforce and have an equitable assessment procedure. Workshops on diversity and inclusion is a must for recruiters and managers. Employers must actively take steps to identify and recruit candidates from underrepresented groups and review any bias in their hiring and recruitment processes. 

Using internship opportunities

Internships are a great opportunity for companies to train and assess a candidate’s performance and assess whether they would be a fit for full-time roles in the company. Therefore, more companies are offering internships and experiential learning opportunities to students as a way of identifying and attracting top talent. Companies could list internships and learning opportunities on student community portals in order to access a larger and broader talent pool. You may thus be able to access a competitive pool of individuals who are a best fit for their organization.

How to attract fresher candidates

Attracting fresher candidates can be a challenge, but there are several things to do to make the company more appealing to recent graduates and entry-level job seekers.

• Develop an attractive employer brand

• Offer clear job descriptions

• Provide opportunities for growth

• Offer competitive compensation

• Emphasize work-life balance

• Leverage social media

• Partner with universities and colleges

Conclusion

There are massive changes happening in fresher hiring trends throughout the year. You need to be clear about the qualities that you want in your applicants as you grow as a company. Keep a watch for the latest trends in fresher hiring, complete with actionable insights and strategies and implement them seamlessly into your recruitment strategy.