The country is in a recession. This we know for a fact, as Nick and Dave remind us daily from Downing Street (although, I hasn't to add they also remind us daily that it is not their fault!) We've had a lot of businesses suffering but for some, recession means something different.
I spoke to a Graduate HR Director before Christmas, who said that her company implemented a graduate system only a year ago-smack bang in the middle of this recession. I cautiously asked how the recruitment was going and then adopted that classic phrase we all use, 'you know, because of the recession and all', giving my eyes an almost audible roll. To my utter amazement, she said that their graduate intake had gone up. After a few moments recovery from choking on my tea, I asked (or rather spluttered) how this could be, as a lot of other companies I had spoken to had either cut down their graduate intake or stopped it altogether (albeit temporarily). My HR hero then went on to say that lots of companies were doing just as I had assumed hers was and so what what her company had done was
increase their graduate intake instead of reduce it. I had to stop myself from tossing back my head and laughing heartily but instead did a calm and collective 'Oh?' She explained that with other companies not taking in as many graduates, the amount of graduates applying for jobs or placements with them had shot up and by taking on this increased number of graduates, they had ultimately made more money than they had spent on increasing the number of places initially. Phew! This woman definitely put the HR in HeRo for me..
Some might say that this is a concept that they are very familiar with and have indeed taken advantage of this situation themselves. Others may say that this is still lunacy and I have merely been swept up in it. It is to these people I say; perhaps I have. But at least I and the others are in a place, lunacy filled or not, where the recession means more money.
How many people can say that?
-Emily
Picture credits: Erskine College, Meshio
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