Why graduate recruits and membership organisations fit so well together
In our experience, Membership Organisations thrive on bringing in new graduate talent and investing in them to create skilled staff who drive value to members in the long term, ensure the organisation remains relevant by bringing in new perspectives and they also they provide career longevity that is hard to find in other sectors.
Hiring newly qualified graduates allows membership organizations to leverage the benefits of new talent, innovation, and a committed workforce, contributing to the organisation's long-term success and sustainability.
What do Membership Organisations get out of it?
Fresh Perspectives and Innovation: New graduates bring fresh ideas and perspectives, which can help the organisation stay innovative and adapt to changing trends. They are often more familiar with the latest technologies and methodologies learned during their recent studies.
Cost-Effectiveness: Hiring newly qualified graduates can be more cost-effective than hiring experienced professionals. Graduates typically command lower salaries, allowing organisations to manage their budgets more efficiently while still building a skilled workforce that builds an in-depth appreciation of their membership and that fits their culture.
Training and Development: Graduates are often eager to learn and grow within their roles. They have the ‘muscle-memory’ of learning and absorbing information. Organisations can shape these new hires to fit their specific needs and culture, investing in their training and development from the ground-up.
Long-Term Investment: By hiring new graduates, organisations can develop a loyal and dedicated workforce. Graduates who start their careers with an organisation and receive proper mentoring and opportunities for advancement are more likely to stay longer and contribute significantly over time. It’s much more efficient to ‘grow a graduate’.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Newly qualified graduates are often more adaptable and flexible, willing to take on various tasks and roles as they explore their career paths. This flexibility can be valuable in a dynamic and evolving organisational environment that is continually adapting to members’ needs.
Filling Entry-Level Positions: Membership Organisations often have a range of entry-level positions that are well-suited to new graduates. These roles provide the graduates with the experience they need to progress in their careers while fulfilling the organization's staffing needs.
Energy and Enthusiasm: New graduates often bring a high level of energy and enthusiasm to their roles. Their lives are moving from education to employment, it’s something they have been building towards for years. Their motivation and willingness to prove themselves can lead to increased productivity and a positive work environment that permeates the whole organisation.
Building a Talent Pipeline: By hiring new graduates, organisations can build a talent pipeline, ensuring a steady flow of potential future leaders who will have acquired a deep understanding of the membership as their careers progress. This approach helps in succession planning and maintaining organisational continuity.
What do Graduates get out of it?
Career Development Opportunities: New graduates seek roles that offer clear paths for career advancement, professional development programs, mentorship, and opportunities to acquire new skills. Many SME's provide graduates with the opportunity to quickly put new skills into practice, and the opportunity to grow their roles, while larger Membership organisations provide the opportunity to work within well-known brands renowned for best practice. All membership organisations provide graduates with exposure to regulatory and data protection management rules that they might not work with in similar sized commercial companies.
Work-Life Balance: A healthy work-life balance is important. They value flexible working hours, the ability to work remotely, and a company culture that respects personal time. We’re seeing Membership organisations leading the way in providing flexible working to staff. They really trust their teams and mostly have really strong organisational cultures that support home working. Membership organisations who have members throughout the UK or further afield, often prioritise the availability of the right talent over their location, and for those we see homeworking as being part of the package.
Competitive Salary and Benefits: While salary is not the only factor, a competitive compensation package that includes benefits like health insurance, gym membership, and flexible working is crucial. Membership organisations are often able to provide competitive salary packages, but the opportunity to progress quickly is what really makes the difference. Some membership organisations provide benefits to their members at scale, which are also available to staff.
Positive Company Culture: A supportive and inclusive company culture that aligns with their values is highly desirable. This includes a collaborative work environment, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and a sense of community. Membership organisations benefit from clarity in their objectives, as they are always about improving value to members. This singularity of purpose creates a unique atmosphere and culture where there is a lot of mutual respect and understanding.
Meaningful Work: New graduates want to feel that their work has purpose and makes a difference. They seek roles where they can contribute to meaningful projects and see the impact of their work. Membership organisations are invariably focused on making the lives of their members better, they are anthropomorphic and for graduates it’s easy to understand that by working in the membership sector, you are an important cog in the betterment of society.
Recognition and Feedback: Regular feedback and recognition for their contributions help them understand their performance and feel valued. Constructive feedback also helps them grow professionally. Membership organisations often have flat organisational structures, which provides a lot of senior visibility to new graduate recruits. If the do something exceptional, then everyone knows about it. It’s our experience that these same companies are also very structured in the staff training and evaluation they provide.
Job Security: Stability and job security are important, especially in uncertain economic times. They prefer companies with a solid track record and a stable financial outlook. Many membership organisations are at the heart of the professions they serve, and while those professions continue to be of value, the same can be said for the organisations representing them. This gives a high degree of stability, along with the extended roles and irreplaceable niches that staff often carve out for themselves over time.
Innovation and Technology: Working with the latest technology and being part of an innovative environment can be very appealing. This keeps the job interesting and helps them stay up-to-date with industry trends. If a membership organisation is representing a professional sector, then it is vital they remain up to date with the technology and challenges that sector faces. We often see many membership organisations that run multiple projects and teams as they are on a never-ending mission to be innovative and use technology for the benefit of heir members.
Location and Commute: The job’s location and the ease of commute can significantly influence their decision. Proximity to home or accessible public transportation options can be a deciding factor. There are membership organisations located throughout the UK, many with a regional focus, and so commuting and location to these organisations is rarely an issue. Also, many are utilising remote or hybrid working patterns.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Many new graduates prefer companies that are socially responsible and engage in sustainable practices. They want to work for organizations that contribute positively to society and the environment. For membership organisations to appeal tend to new members, and to position themselves as organisations of authority in a profession, they have to be sensitive to their social responsibility roles, and our experience is that they are. Membership organisations also have governance teams at their heart, often along with policy teams, and so there is much consideration given to corporate social responsibility, more so than in more sectors.
Conclusion
Overall, membership sector organisations can make excellent choices for new graduates who want a supportive role that they will enjoy and be proud of.
At Membership Bespoke, we place graduates in all of our disciplines. We have started newly qualified graduates in Events, Education & Training, Finance, Marketing & Digital, Membership, Policy & Public Affairs, Communications & PR, and Secretarial &Governance roles.