Businesses have traditionally been eager to replenish teams with younger recruits, but many are finding Generation Z newcomers to be more troublesome than their relatively low graduate salaries justify, reports the German news agency (dpa).
A recent survey of over 900 executives revealed that three-quarters are dissatisfied with the performance of these new hires. Additionally, six in ten businesses admitted in August to having quickly fired at least one person from this age group who had been recruited since the beginning of the year.
According to Intelligent.com, an education and career advice website that commissioned the survey, nearly two-thirds (65%) of hiring managers surveyed believe recent college graduates are entitled, and 63% think they get offended too easily.
The surveyed companies reported a perceived lack of work ethic and poor communication skills among these young hires. One in six stated they would be reluctant to hire again from the Gen Z cohort, typically referring to those born between 1997 and 2012. More than half of the businesses surveyed indicated that hires from this age group “do not respond well to feedback.”
“They often lack the practical, real-world experience and soft skills required to succeed in the work environment,” said Huy Nguyen, Intelligent’s chief education and career development adviser.
Additionally, recent warnings from academics at UC Berkeley, Columbia University, and Oxford University indicate that students are struggling to finish books or read to the levels of previous generations.
“Growing up immersed in social media and text-based communication means many young employees may struggle with face-to-face conversations, especially those expected in professional settings,” said Mark Travers, a psychologist who analysed the survey results for Forbes. – Bloomberg
