75% of American companies say that some or all recent college graduates that they hired this year were not satisfactory. What’s more, six out of every ten companies have fired a professional with this profile that they hired this year, which leads one in every 6 recruiting managers to be wary of hiring professionals from the generation Z.
These are notable conclusions from the research promoted by Intelligent, an online platform and digital magazine specialized in education and training. The analysis, carried out by Pollfish in August, included the participation of 966 professionals executive level, including Human Resources Managers, Directors, Presidents or Owners or Partners. All of them over 35 years old and with household incomes of more than $75,000 annually.
14% of respondents report that only a few or no hires were successful
Hiring recent graduates
The most significant finding is the problems with hiring recent graduates that American companies claim to have. 94% of them claim that they incorporated these profiles into their teams this year, but sOnly 25% affirm that all hires of recent university graduates were positive. For their part, 62% say that only some were successful and 14% report that only a few or none were fruitful.
Among the reasons that companies allege for the hiring not being successful is, first of all, the lack of motivation or initiative (50%), followed by lack of professionalism (46%) and poor communication skills (39%). They also cite difficulties accepting feedback (38%) and inadequate problem-solving skills (34%).
From Intelligent they point out that a gap may occur between young people and the labor market due to the contrast between the university and work environment. This represents a clash in relation to cultural dynamics or the expectation of autonomy, among other things.
“While they may have some theoretical knowledge from university, they often lack the practical, real-world experience and soft skills needed to succeed in the work environment.”; explains Huy Nguyen, Director of Education and Professional Development at the company. “These factors, combined with the expectations of experienced workers, can create challenges for both recent graduates and the companies they work for.”.
According to the analysis, 79% of companies say they had to include at least some of these new hires in performance improvement plans, and 60% report that some were ultimately fired. This leads more than half of talent managers to say that recent graduates are not prepared for the job market.
Responsibility of candidates and companies
What’s more, They do not have a good perception of new professionals. 65% of those surveyed believe that recent graduates believe they are entitled to everything, and 63% believe that they are offended too easily. Additionally, 55% believe they lack work ethic and 54% believe they do not respond well to feedback.
Among other issues that respondents do not value positively, the following stand out: lack of ability to handle workloadtardiness or inappropriate clothing. They also believe that they often do not use language appropriate for the work environment or that they do not meet project deadlines.
In this sense, Intelligent invites recent graduates to demonstrate their professionalism and get involved in the corporate culture. He advises interacting with colleagues, asking reflective questions about how the company works, requesting feedback and working on professional development. It also recommends demonstrating a positive attitude and participating voluntarily and actively.
However, the platform It also holds companies responsible. He points out that hiring managers cannot be carried away by stereotypes about generation Z and invites them to implement accompanying policies. It ensures that companies have a responsibility to prepare recent graduates for their particular workplace and to give them the opportunity to develop.
Companies have the responsibility of accompanying the incorporation of new employees
In this regard, they aim at the implementation of formal onboarding and training programs for new employees so that they correctly understand the company culture and company expectations. New graduates can also be matched with mentors to provide guidance, support and feedback.
Generation Z and corporate work
Yet, 84% of respondents plan to hire recent college graduates in 2025, although the remaining 10% are not sure they will do it and 5% will not do it. Concerns about the preparation of Generation Z for the labor market, the high turnover rate among this segment or past negative experiences are some of the reasons companies do not hire young workers.
On the other hand, when considering the possibility of hiring a recent graduate, those responsible for recruiting say they feel inclined toward those who They show initiative, or exhibit a positive attitude. Also towards the profiles that demonstrate a strong work ethic and adaptability, as well as punctuality and trust.
In order to facilitate the incorporation of generation Z into the work environment, Intelligent recommends adapting hiring processes and focusing on the opportunities for candidates to demonstrate their potential beyond his limited experience. Thus, you can ask about circumstances in which they have demonstrated their capabilities and evidenced traits that may fit with the company’s culture.
For their part, candidates should research the company and the position for which they are applying and demonstrate that you have a genuine interest in contributing to the common project. They recommend highlighting activities that they have carried out outside the classroom, projects in which they have participated and emphasize their desire to learn and develop in the company.