American colleges are not preparing students for the workforce, according to a recent poll, with hiring managers saying many graduates are entitled, easily offended, and on their phones too much.
A May release on the Resume.org poll said that “the class of 2025 college graduates [are] entering a difficult job market. Not only is there economic uncertainty, but hiring managers also express skepticism about the capabilities and professionalism of young workers joining the workforce.”
The poll was conducted in April by Resume.org – a website that helps with resume writing – and surveyed 1,000 hiring managers.
According to the poll, “8 in 10 hiring managers say a recent college graduate didn’t work out at their company in the past year, and 65% say they had to fire one.”
“Most companies (90%) say they hired recent college graduates in the past year,” the release said. “However, only 17% of those companies say all of these hires were successful.”
“The majority, 70%, say that only some of the hires worked out, and 13% say that only a few of their recent grad hires worked out,” while “1% say that none of them were successful,” the release said.
At 48%, the top issue for graduates at companies where it didn’t work out is a lack of motivation or initiative.
Other issues include a lack of professionalism at 39%, excessive phone use at 39%, poor time management at 38%, and an indifferent attitude at 37%.
“Poor communication skills, difficulty handling feedback, and an inability to adapt to company culture” are also issues for the young adults.
Workplace professionalism appears to be a problem in general for recent college graduates, according to managers.
The poll shows that 61% of managers say recent graduates are entitled or too easily offended, over half say they are unprepared for the workforce, and 87% say they are “often or sometimes on their phones during work days.”
“Tardiness is also a concern,” the release said. “66% say recent grads are late to start work often or sometimes, and 55% say they are late to meetings,” while “60% say they turn in assignments late.”
Additionally, the poll shows that “more than half (58%) of managers report that recent grads often or sometimes fail to dress appropriately, and 56% say they don’t always use proper workplace language.”
One in six of the managers polled “are reluctant to hire this cohort.”
“Only 58% of companies say they plan to hire from the graduating class of 2025, reflecting growing hesitation among employers,” the release said.
Resume.org career coach Irina Pichura said in the release: “Colleges don’t teach students how to behave in the workplace, and there is a lack of transitional support from both universities and employers.”
“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,” Pichura said.
“Colleges should have a workplace training program to support graduates’ transition to the workplace,” Pichura said.
Resume.org has not yet responded to The Center Square’s request for comment via an online contact form.
