NO I WON'T PAY FOR YOUR TUITION!

Three times today I have talked with recent University graduates (Computer Science) and each one gave the same reason for their stated salary expectations....

"I had to pay a lot for my tuition and degree"

STOP IT people, do not use this reason for seeking ridiculously high starting salaries.

In addition, your 3 Co-Op/Internships of 4 months duration do not mean you have 3 years of experience so should be treated as a Intermediate or Senior Level candidate...and I do not care what your Professor or next door neighbour says you are worth - Industry and businesses will tell you different.

Several good ideas to prevent YOU [the 3 individuals and others who use the same flawed  thinking] joining or adding to the estimated 25% of under/not employed recent graduates is to be realistic in your salary expectations for not only your chosen discipline/profession, but also target business, geographical location and market value.

Dear Mr President / CEO / Chief Company Strategist...

You have made the decision and chosen the strategy of hiring only the 'best' graduates to drive and support the company into being the 'best'! And...

You have issued direction to the appropriate hiring/decision makers that the company will align itself with the 'local' University / College to attract and hire the 'best'! And...

Your HR department (whether internal or managed) and hiring decision makers spend countless hours nurturing contacts, developing a network, schmoozing, attending un-events, building pipelines of potential 'best' graduates for the coming year[s] from the aligned / affiliated establishment. And...

You pick up a snippet of news that the latest recognized and acknowledged World University Rankings have just been released - beads of perspiration appear on your furrowed brow - where are the chosen establishments? Relief at seeing the aligned/affiliated establishment name appear in the list of the Top 200....not bad, pat yourself on the back, send out a link to the rankings to all within the company to promote the strategy. But wait...

If your strategy is to attract the 'best'! Is the direction and execution really delivering 'the best'? Just a question...

As in all things 'business' - everyone involved needs to evaluate the chosen direction and assess the value of the chosen execution with honesty and integrity mindful of the real value/worth to the business...the best will prosper, the strong survive, the diverse grow and become recognised as 'the best'.