Graduation season is upon us and it has got us thinking about jobs and hiring, specifically in the non-profit and social enterprise area. Based on our work with non-profit organizations, foundations, and businesses, the Team at Starfish Impact has compiled a list of opportunities we have identified related to current trends with recent college graduates:
The Trend: More college graduates want to work for an employer that makes a difference.
The Opportunity: This is good news for non-profit organizations, which are in a better position than ever to attract talent. But another great opportunity is in partnering with companies to provide a way for their employees to give back. We’ve seen great examples from small and large companies that have used non-profit partnerships to retain employees and increase company morale and engagement.
The Trend: Business is still the most popular major.
The Opportunity: Recruiting employees with finance, strategy, and analytical talent by providing more robust leadership experiences than they would get in for-profit companies. Non-profit opportunities might not have the same benefit packages, but they can often offer more hands-on experience and responsibility than any other industry. We know one non-profit organization that pairs recent hires with a board member and senior executive mentor for training and development. They have found that giving young employees access to community leaders is a big selling point in recruiting.
The Trend: The job market for recent college graduates is still weak.
The Opportunity: In a recession, more graduates turn to jobs in the social sector, so this presents a great opportunity for hiring candidates that might not have considered working in the non-profit sector. But an even greater opportunity exists in bolstering your staff with an internship program. Many recent college graduates find themselves with a few months of unemployment before they land that first job and many would love the opportunity to work on a short-term project while they look for that first job.
Overall, all trends point to growth in the non-profit sector with even more talent headed our way, which is definitely a positive thing.
