American colleges are dropping the ball when it comes to getting students ready for the real world, according to a poll from Resume.org. The poll paints a challenging picture for the class of 2025, revealing that many hiring managers are concerned about the professionalism and skills of young workers entering a shaky job market. Conducted in April, the survey reached out to 1,000 hiring managers, and the results aren’t exactly flattering for recent grads.
A staggering eight out of ten hiring managers reported that a newly hired college graduate didn’t work out at their company last year. The poll also finds that while 90% of companies hired recent grads, only 17% felt all those hires were successful. Most companies, about 70%, said only a portion of their new hires worked out, and a small percentage said nearly none of them were up to par.
The top concern for companies is a lack of motivation or initiative, with 48% of respondents pointing to this issue. Professionalism, or the lack thereof, is another major sticking point, with 39% of managers highlighting excessive phone use and poor time management as significant problems. A notable 37% of hiring managers also mentioned that recent grads have an indifferent attitude, which doesn’t bode well in the workplace.
Communication skills and the ability to handle feedback are also in short supply among young adults, according to the poll. Managers are seeing a general trend of unpreparedness, with 61% labeling recent grads as entitled or easily offended. Over half of the managers surveyed believe these young workers are not ready for the demands of the workforce.
The poll also spotlights issues like tardiness and inappropriate workplace behavior. A whopping 66% of managers said recent grads are often late to work, and 55% noted their tardiness to meetings. Completing assignments on time is another hurdle, with 60% of managers reporting late submissions from their young hires.
Dressing appropriately and using proper language in the workplace are also concerns. More than half, 58%, of managers say that new grads often show up inappropriately dressed, while 56% point to a lack of proper workplace language. These issues add to the reluctance of hiring managers, with one in six saying they’re hesitant to hire from this new cohort.
The survey indicates that only 58% of companies are planning to hire from the class of 2025, signaling growing hesitation. According to Resume.org career coach Irina Pichura, colleges aren’t equipping students with essential workplace behaviors, leading to a rocky transition from campus to career. She suggests that universities should consider implementing workplace training programs to better prepare students.
Pichura emphasizes that many students graduate without any real exposure to professional settings, which leaves them learning the basics of workplace norms on the job. This lack of preparation is leaving employers frustrated and reluctant to bring on new graduates. Resume.org has yet to comment on these findings despite inquiries from The Center Square.
The poll’s revelations echo sentiments from other conservative-leaning news sources, which point to a disconnect between higher education and the workforce. Fox News and the New York Post have also highlighted similar concerns, underscoring the need for educational reforms. As young graduates step into their careers, the gap between academic learning and job readiness seems wider than ever.
This growing divide is causing a ripple effect across industries. Employers are left to pick up the slack, investing time and resources into training new hires in basic professional skills. Meanwhile, recent grads are struggling to find their footing in a competitive job landscape.
In the face of these challenges, it’s clear that more needs to be done to bridge this gap. Colleges need to take a hard look at their current programs and make necessary adjustments. Only then can we expect to see a new generation of graduates fully prepared to meet the demands of today’s workforce.
