Supervisory Skills to Manage Recent College Grads

Millions of recent college graduates enter the workplace yearly. These new college graduates bring new skills, high expectations and anxiety to the workplace. Supervisors who manage recent college graduates also come into these new working relationships with anticipation and anxiety; concerned about the steps involved in professionally developing these new graduates. To help these college graduates develop into the professional the organization wants, supervisors must wear multiple hats from psychologist to mentor, trainer.

Supervisors who manage recent college graduates understand human psychology

Everyone is excited when a new college grad launches a new career, but not everyone thinks about the level of anxiety recent grad bring into the workplace. The best supervisors of recent college graduates appreciate the psychology behind the transition these new professionals are making. Good supervisors who work with this population have a sense of human development and what it takes to keep these new professionals energized and engaged.

Supervisors who manage recent college graduates must understand mentoring

New college graduates need mentoring in the workplace. It is not necessary that a supervisor ultimately develops a long term mentoring relationship with recent college graduates under their supervision. However, while these recent college graduates are in their departments, it makes sense that a supervisor would understand mentoring relationships. Recent graduates may seek advice from a supervisor about how to fit within the culture and navigate the workplace. I know many people who continue to hold special relationships with their first supervisors, long after they have moved on to other companies and careers.

Supervisors who manage recent college graduates can train

Supervisors of recent college graduates are concerned about the skill level of their new employees and how much training will be necessary to bring them productive. Supervisors working with recent college grads have responsibility of giving new assignments, checking for understanding of directives and monitoring work progress. This is what trainers do and the better a supervisor is at doing these three things, the more successful the recent graduate under his or her supervision will be.

Supervisors who manage recent graduates are good communicators

Supervisors who work with new graduates have to be good communicators. These supervisors have to be able to help recent graduates build their workplace vocabulary, so to speak. They have to be able to give new graduates constructive and tactful feedback on their output.

Resources:
6 Avoidable Errors New College Graduates Should Watch For
Class of 2011 can Find Jobs by Looking in the Right Place
How I Paid Off my Student Loan