After complaining that Gen Z graduates have been difficult to work with for the better part of two years, bosses are no longer all talk and no action. Now they are quick to fire young employees who are unable to perform just months after being hired.
ASix in 10 employers say they have already laid off some Gen Z workers they hired just out of college earlier this year, according to a new report.
Intelligent.com, a platform that helps young professionals navigate the future of work, surveyed nearly 1,000 U.S. leaders. It turned out that the shortcomings of the Class of 2024 will impact future graduating students.
After experiencing a series of problems with young new hires, one in six bosses say they are hesitant to hire new graduates.
Meanwhile, one in seven bosses have admitted they may not hire them at all next year.
Three-quarters of companies surveyed said some or all of their recent graduate hires were unsatisfactory in some way.
Generation Z rates “unprepared and unprofessional”
So where do things go wrong for recent graduates?
The complaint employers have about young people today is their lack of motivation or initiative; 50% of the leaders surveyed cited this as the reason why things didn’t work out with their new hire.
Bosses also pointed to Generation Z being unprofessional, disorganized and having poor communication skills as the main reasons for having to fire graduates.
Leaders say they have struggled with the tangible challenges of the latest generation, including frequent lateness to work and meetings, not wearing office attire and using language appropriate for the workplace.
Now, more than half of hiring managers have concluded that college graduates are unprepared for the working world. Meanwhile, more than 20% say they cannot handle the workload.
In reality, colleges know that their students are completely unprepared for the job market – and some have begun to ramp up their efforts to fill the void.
Michigan State University is one example students learn to deal with a network conversation, including how to look for signs that the other party is getting bored and it’s time to move on.
Meanwhile, a London secondary school is testing a 12-hour school day to prepare students for adult life.
Do you want to be more employable? Attitude is everything
When asked what would make college students more employable, bosses said: a positive attitude and more initiative.
Huy Nguyen, Intelligent’s chief education and career development advisor, advises Gen Z graduates to observe how other employees interact to understand the corporate culture at any new company they join. From there it is easier to assess what is an appropriate way to interact with others.
“Take the initiative to ask thoughtful questions, solicit feedback, and apply it to demonstrate your motivation for personal growth,” adds Nguyen. “Build a reputation for trustworthiness by maintaining a positive attitude, meeting deadlines, and volunteering for projects, even those outside your immediate responsibilities,” says Nguyen.”
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently reiterated that an “embarrassing” part of your success in your twenties depends on your attitude – and the reason why is simple: managers prefer to work with positive people.
Some leaders have even insisted that a can-do attitude at work will advance the careers of young workers more than a college degree.
Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin, has repeatedly urged young people to ditch university in favor of the ‘school of life’.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently claimed that raw talent and personality are more important than credentials.
To that end, Cisco’s top executive in Britain, David Meads, dropped out of school at the age of 16. He told Fortune that “attitude and ability are more important than whatever letters are after your name, or whatever qualifications you have on a sheet.”
Have you had to let go of a Gen Z employee? Or maybe you’re the Gen Zer who just got fired. Fortune would like to hear from you. Email: orianna.royle@fortune.com
This story originally appeared on Fortune.com
