In the US, Intelligent.com, a platform dedicated to helping young professionals navigate the future of work, has published a recent survey report exploring hiring managers’ attitudes toward hiring recent college graduates. Intelligent.com experts gathered responses from 966 U.S. business leaders in the United States.
Based on the survey, 17 per cent of hiring managers are hesitant to hire recent college graduates. These managers report that graduates who exhibit initiative, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic would be more likely to succeed in their roles, and therefore, they would be more inclined to hire them.
While 94 per cent of companies hired recent graduates in 2024, about three-quarters experienced issues with these hires. The most commonly reported challenges included a lack of motivation or initiative (50 per cent), unprofessional behaviour (46 per cent), and poor communication skills (39 per cent). Notably, 60 per cent of business leaders stated that some of these hires had to be dismissed due to these issues.
“It can be easy for managers to buy into stereotypes of Gen Z and dismiss them entirely,” says Intelligent’s Chief Education and Career Development Advisor, Huy Nguyen. “However, companies have an equal responsibility to prepare recent graduates for their particular workplace. By understanding the challenges of Gen Z workers, companies can take a more proactive approach by implementing formal employee onboarding programs that clearly outline company culture and expectations.”
Looking ahead, 5 per cent of respondents indicated that they do not plan to hire recent college graduates in 2025, while the majority (84 per cent) are planning to hire them, and 10 per cent remain undecided.
For a detailed breakdown of the survey results, visit: https://www.intelligent.com/1-in-6-companies-are-hesitant-to-hire-recent-college-graduates/
