6 Reasons to Hire Entry-Level Employees

If your company is in the midst of filling open positions, you’re likely well aware of the challenges associated with hiring. But did you know that limiting yourself to candidates with years of industry experience might be making the hiring process even more difficult? 

Fortunately, there may be an answer: hiring entry-level employees. Entry-level employees can bring many benefits to your recruitment strategy and the company. Read on to learn more about what constitutes an entry-level hire and the benefits of focusing on recruiting these types of employees instead of more seasoned candidates. 

What is an Entry-Level Role?

An entry-level role is one that doesn’t require a candidate to hold previous years of relevant experience. In the corporate world, this refers to a position that could be open to someone who has graduated high school or recently graduated college with a relevant degree but hasn’t gathered working experience in the field or profession. 

But in recent years, it’s become increasingly common for employers to ask entry-level job candidates to hold years of prior experience. Approximately 38.4% of entry-level job postings available on LinkedIn include demands of at least three years of experience.  

And while this newer requirement for entry-level positions may help you find a more seasoned employee, it eliminates true entry-level candidates who may be a great fit for your company. Which means it can also reduce the number of benefits your company derives from hiring entry-level talent. 

Benefits of Hiring Entry-Level Employees

Let’s explore six of the top benefits associated with entry-level positions. 

1. Reduced Costs

It’s estimated that hiring and onboarding an entry-level employee costs 180% less than hiring and onboarding an executive-level employee. Furthermore, it’s about 20% of an entry-level employee’s salary to hire them, while it’s about 1 to 1.5 times a mid-level employee’s salary to hire them. This can be an important fact to bring up when advocating for certain types of headcount.

2. Increased Trainability

Another benefit of hiring talent with limited or no professional experience is that they haven’t developed workplace habits or strong personal biases. Generally, they’re less likely to be set in a specific way of doing tasks. This means they’re less likely to bring in any toxic or unprofessional habits from past employers. Because it’s likely an entry-level employee’s first role, you can help build healthy professional habits from the ground up and more easily impart your company’s culture and shared values. 

3. Higher Levels of Engagement

Entry-level employees are often eager to learn, grow, and move up in the workforce. They may also be more willing to take bigger risks and try out fresh ideas to improve processes and procedures. And since no team should stay stagnant, this is a major asset that can help bring your company into the future. 

4. Familiarity With Newer Technologies

Generally, most entry-level employees are part of the younger generations of job seekers, who are known for being more comfortable with technology and various software platforms. Throughout their schooling, they’ve been exposed to the latest software, hardware and applications, which can be an asset to your company. You may find that they can jump in and learn job-related specifics, such as how to operate a customer management system (CMS), with ease. 

5. Increased Workplace Diversity

If you shift your focus from hiring mid-level employees to entry-level employees, you’re more likely to tap into a younger demographic. And the younger generation of job seekers are more committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)—which can help your company better embrace DEI. Gen Z is described as the most diverse generation yet, and many factor DEI initiatives into their decision of accepting a job.

6. Additional Opportunities for Current Employees

When you hire entry-level employees, you open the door to opportunities for your existing employees to serve as mentors. Employees who participate in mentorship programs are 49% less likely to leave their current employer, making it advantageous to both your recruitment and retention strategy. Not only will this help improve retention, but it can help communicate that your company has a culture of nurturing and growing talent from within. 

Add Entry-Level Employee Recruitment to Your Strategy Today

Entry-level employees can bring diversity, eagerness, and a breath of fresh air to your company. While you may have to make concessions in an entry-level employee’s professional experience, the potential for growth and adaptability can be a beneficial trade-off. 

If you’re considering revising your recruitment strategy to include plans to hire entry-level employees, Insight Global can help. Reach out to us today for more recruitment guidance.