Top 3 reasons for accepting an internship or grad role offer
It's a hot recruitment market right now, and every tech company we talk to is struggling to find people - at all levels of their organisation. At Summer of Tech, we do a lot of coaching and career clinics with students and graduates. By Offers Day, many of our top candidates are deciding between a handful of roles.
Here are a few categories of thought that can drive students and graduates to say YES to an offer.
Heart
Does this role/team/opportunity engage me?
Does it align with my passion or motivation?
Will I fit in here?
Will I be supported/trained and valued?
Do they value me as a whole person?
How will this role fit in with my family/life/other commitments?
Is this work useful?
Will my contribution make a difference?
Do I understand how my role fits into the wider context?
Who is my mentor?
Will I get on with them?
What about the wider team?
Have I met the people?
Do I know who I'll be working with? Have they hired interns/grads before?
What's their office environment like?
What's the dress code?
What's the vibe/culture/feel of the place?
Brain
What does the work involve?
Does it align with what I've been studying?
Is it what I really want to do right now?
Am I interested in that type of work?
Will it challenge me or let me apply what I've learned, or help me understand what I've learned?
What will I gain from this job?
Do I understand what you need to do to be successful in the role?
Extra resource: Read up on neurodiversity if you're interested in nailing this category AND being an awesome mentor AND retaining your amazing intern beyond summer. Watch this TED talk that gives an introduction to neurodiversity and a reminder that everyone's brain works differently.
Dreams
Will this role help me fulfill my aspirations & potential?
Is this an industry or sector or type of role or organisation that I want to work for in future?
Is this a stepping stone?
Are there career development opportunities?
Do they train and promote from within?
What about my dreams to pay off my student loan?
Note: wages are a factor but not USUALLY the main reason for a candidate to reject a role. We ask you to pay a fair wage and have many examples of students with multiple offers going for the role that is paying significantly less in wages. Other benefits might also be a factor, so think about what you can offer to incentivise candidates to say YES.
Everyone is different.
Like you, candidates are looking for the RIGHT fit. Some aspects will be more important for some people than others. If you listen for drivers and motivating factors during job interviews, that will give you a head start in understanding what the candidate is looking for and whether you're going to be their top choice when it comes to a job offer. Please understand that candidates who have multiple offers are often just as stressed as candidates with no offers - though for different reasons. Please treat your "no's" as well as your “yeses”. Remember Aotearoa is a small world - and just because someone turns down your job offer this year, doesn't mean they won't come back to you in the future and be an even better team member then!
Final protip: If your organisation is wondering where all the good/diverse/ideal/best candidates are... you should be asking whether you're ticking all these boxes. There are plenty of good candidates, but maybe they don't think you're a match for them. Make sure your organisation profile and job listings are written clearly and compellingly, and that you're not putting off diverse candidates!
Check out our tips for diversifying your candidate pool.
