Recruiting International Graduates: An Untapped Talent Resource

Posted on: 3 July 2024 by Greg Hunter in Employer Connections Blog

We know that recruiting international graduates may present obstacles for some employers but we’re certain the rewards of exploring this untapped talent resource far outweigh the challenges.

The competition for talent is fierce, regardless of industry, turnover or company size. I’m sure I’m preaching to the converted when I profess that investing in graduate talent is a sure-fire way to breathe innovation into your business and futureproof success.

But in a local landscape where every employer is trying to stay ahead of the curve and upscale, we know how challenging it is to attract and recruit the very best talent into your business. However, we feel local employers are missing a trick, with a solution right on your doorstep. There is an untapped talent pool of International students and graduates at The University of Liverpool which could act as a solution to many of the challenge’s employers face in regards to attracting talent.

Our university has been part of the fabric of what makes this city great for over 140 years, and of course a lot has changed in that time, including us. We’re now a global University with over 7,700 international students, comprising of over 119 nationalities. A true reflection of our global city. Factoring in the vast amount of degree disciplines we offer from our 3 faculties; Health & Life Sciences, Science & Engineering and Humanities and Social Sciences, whatever your sector, we’re confident our graduates will add value to your business.

Of course we’re biased, but skillset and ability are a given when securing our graduates, but there are other compelling reasons which underscore the importance of securing diverse talent into your organisation. First and foremost, international graduates bring a unique perspective and cultural diversity to your organisation. Their varied experiences, backgrounds, and insights create an authentic and innovative culture to your workplace. I also firmly believe the fact they have travelled to another country to live and study is testament to their character, maturity and attitude.

I’ve read hundreds (more likely thousands) of job descriptions from local employers throughout my career and ‘problem solving’ is perhaps the most desirable attribute on the essential criteria.

So what better way to ensure diversity of thinking and fresh perspective than an international student or graduate with a broad understanding of global markets. As businesses increasingly operate on a global scale, having employees who understand different cultures, languages, and business practices can be a significant asset.

We know that recruiting international graduates may present obstacles for some employers but we’re certain the rewards of exploring this untapped talent resource far outweigh the challenges. But, don’t just take our word for it, in 2023 Careers & Employability supported local Health Tech’ SME Mycardium to place a Management School international student on a 100-hour internship, paid for through the Liverpool Interns Programme. This programme allows local SMEs to see first-hand the impact students can have on their organisation, dealing with real world problems set as project challenges.

Here’s what Mycadium Manager Director Antony Shimmin had to say about working with our Business Analytics & Big Data student: “We gave Durga the project brief, and although she wasn’t familiar with this area of work, she returned within a week with the finished document, that blew us away, so much so, we had to adopt her recommendations as part of our operations model! We quickly realised, we needed to create a role within the business model that previously wasn’t even being considered as necessary, to ensure we could retain her skills, to the benefit of the business.”

“They say you can’t miss what you’ve never had, and the Liverpool Interns programme demonstrates this. Once you discover first-hand the impact and value our international students have on your organisation, suddenly the challenges of hiring international graduates seem incidental.”

“I would not have been interested in offering opportunities at this stage of our development, only the University has been prepared to support us through the Liverpool Interns Bursary Initiative, but I’m so glad we took advantage of the offer, because it has helped our business enormously and they are both brilliant and beyond our expectations! We have offered both Interns jobs at Mycardium and they have accepted.”

If you want to know about how we can support you in regards to attracting talent to your business please email employerconnections@liverpool.ac.uk.