A December 2023 survey from Intelligent.com revealed a surprising trend among recent college graduates, with one in five (19%) employers reporting that candidates brought a parent with them to their job interview. This study, which included 800 U.S. managers, directors and executives involved in hiring, sheds light on some intriguing and disturbing behaviors among the latest entrants into the workforce.
Nearly half of employers have had to fire a recent graduate, and 58% think that recent graduates are not ready for the job market. As a result, 38% of employers prefer to hire older workers instead of recent graduates.
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One in five employers say that recent graduates are not prepared for the job interview. A major issue is that 53% of respondents noticed that graduates have difficulty maintaining eye contact during job interviews.
In addition, half of employers surveyed said graduates consistently demand unreasonable salaries, while 47% encountered candidates dressed inappropriately for their interviews.
But Gen Z’s problems don’t end there. Even in virtual environments, 21% of their candidates refuse to turn on their cameras, signaling a broader struggle with professional behavior. This unpreparedness and lack of professionalism, both online and in person, is becoming a growing concern for employers.
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Graduates cannot manage their workload
When it comes to the performance of new graduates in their perspective roles, employers face several issues:
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63% say graduates often cannot cope with their workload
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61% report that graduates are often late for work
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59% indicate that graduates often miss deadlines and assignments
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53% say graduates are often late for meetings
Commenting on graduates’ behavior and attitudes in the workplace, most employers said they believe graduates have a sense of entitlement, are too easily offended and are generally unprepared for the job market. More precisely: they are not professional enough (57%), have poor communication skills (52%) and do not respond well to feedback (55%).
Changing expectations
This isn’t the only study shedding light on Generation Z’s workplace behavior. In a recent survey, 68% of small business owners said Gen Zers were the “least trustworthy” among all employees and 71% were most likely to have a mental health issue in the workplace. Additionally, only 4% of employers said Generation Z is the generation most aligned with their culture.
If employers want to retain their younger workers, they may need to adjust their expectations and training methods. For example, KPMG offers additional training to Gen Z recruits who need help with skills like teamwork and giving presentations. This means companies may need to invest more time and resources to help new hires develop the skills they lack.
Rather than expecting new graduates to be fully prepared from the start, employers may need to provide additional support and guidance to help them succeed.
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This article 1 in 5 recent college graduates brought a parent with them to their job interview, why? originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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