Resume.org has released new findings from an April 2025 survey assessing how hiring managers view recent college graduates. The survey of 1,000 US hiring managers reveals that 8 in 10 say a recent college graduate didn’t work out at their company in the past year, and 65 per cent say they had to fire at least one. Managers also report issues ranging from excessive phone use and unprofessional behaviour to poor time management and a lack of initiative.
Among companies that hired recent grads in the past year, only 17 per cent say all of their hires were successful. The majority (70 per cent) say only some hires worked out, while 13 per cent say only a few did. Top reasons recent grads struggled include lack of motivation or initiative (48 per cent), lack of professionalism (39 per cent), excessive phone use (39 per cent), poor time management (38 per cent), and an indifferent attitude (37 per cent). As a result, 70 per cent of companies say some hires were placed on performance improvement plans, and 65 per cent had to fire at least one recent college grad.
Managers also expressed broad concerns about workplace readiness. Nearly 8 in 10 (78 per cent) say recent grads spend too much time on their phones, and more than half say they’re unprepared for the workforce and difficult to manage. A majority say these employees are often late to work (66 per cent) or meetings (55 per cent), turn in assignments late (60 per cent), and frequently deliver poor-quality work (62 per cent). Concerns about professionalism are also common: 58 per cent say recent grads fail to dress appropriately, and 56 per cent say they don’t always use proper workplace language.
Only 58 per cent of companies say they plan to hire from the class of 2025, and 1 in 6 hiring managers admit they’re hesitant to hire recent graduates at all. Those open to hiring Gen Z candidates say they’re looking for qualities like initiative (57 per cent), a positive attitude (53 per cent), a strong work ethic (52 per cent), adaptability (51 per cent), and openness to feedback (50 per cent).
“Colleges don’t teach students how to behave in the workplace, and there is a lack of transitional support from both universities and employers,” says Resume.org’s Career Coach Irina Pichura. “Most students graduate with little exposure to professional environments, so when they arrive at their first job, they’re often learning basic workplace norms for the first time. Colleges should have a workplace training program to support graduates’ transition to the workplace.”
Pichura also shares advice for recent grads on how to demonstrate initiative during and after the hiring process. “During the interview, candidates should come prepared with research and ideas. Use real examples to show how you took initiative, and follow up with a thoughtful thank-you email. Once hired, look for ways to take ownership of tasks, ask for feedback, and go beyond your role. That’s how you build trust and credibility.”
This survey, conducted in April 2025 via Pollfish, included 1,000 US hiring managers. Participants were selected based on demographic criteria and screening questions to ensure they hold management-level positions and are involved in hiring for entry-level roles.
