With Graduate season upon us – how can employers strike a balance between productivity in the workplace whilst prioritising the wellbeing of their successful candidate?

According to recent research, 62 per cent of graduates believe an employer would prefer them on site all of the time, despite seven in 10 saying a hybrid role would help them with productivity.

The findings come from graduate career website Prospect at Jisc, which also suggests that 80 per cent of graduates feel a hybrid working arrangement would be good for their overall wellbeing.

However, the research also found that while entry-level workers expect to be supported when in the office, 35 per cent of managers are less likely to be there.

When it comes to placing the right person in the right role, Peterborough-based Anne Corder Recruitment has over 25 years’ experience – and graduates are a huge part of the agency’s remit.

Anne Corder Recruitment is gearing itself up for a busy summer and is acutely aware of the misconceptions around hybrid working, alongside the pressures of putting grades above personality and potential in some cases.

Recruitment specialist Sarah-Jane Bond said: “If graduates feel that they are required to be in the office on a full-time basis, this could add to their personal pressure – particularly if they associate better wellbeing with the flexibility of remote working.

“However, while hybrid working most certainly has its place – perception that this is not healthy for one’s wellbeing is not the case in our experience. In fact, there are huge benefits to be gained from being in the workplace.

“People early on in their careers can lack the necessary capabilities and confidence to navigate politics and procedures at work. They may not have built relationships with managers to enable them to comfortably ask what’s required, so it’s important that employers are clear about where and when they expect staff to work. “Ensuring that managers are in the office at the same time as more junior staff can help them build the skills and behaviours they need to thrive.”

Sarah-Jane added: “Graduates have some incredible positives to offer the workplace. They are eager to start their first ‘proper’ job, have fresh ideas and new talents to offer an employer, come with a willingness to learn and are enthusiastic.
“By using education filters, employers could be unintentionally overlooking traits which would make a candidate the perfect fit for a particular job – something qualifications cannot reveal.

“Behaviour, personality, emotional intelligence, assertiveness and problem solving are key factors that could be assessed and matched to a candidate’s own aspirations and potential.”