Vast Majority of Companies Rate Gen Z Hires 'Unsatisfactory,' Say they Need Etiquette Training: Survey

Findings from a recent study show that one in six companies are unsure about hiring recent college graduates, rating them "unsatisfactory" in the workplace.

The study conducted by Intelligent.com in August 2024 surveyed 966 business leaders to learn more about their attitudes toward working with and hiring Gen Z college graduates. The study found that 75% of companies found some or all of the Gen Zers they hired this year to be "unsatisfactory." It also found that "6 in 10 companies fired a recent college graduate they hired this year."

"It can be easy for managers to buy into typical stereotypes of Gen Z and dismiss them entirely; however, companies have an equal responsibility to prepare recent graduates for their particular workplace and give them the best chance to succeed," said Intelligent's Chief Education and Career Development Advisor, Huy Nguyen. "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."

Overall, the study seemed to show that many hiring managers feel recent college graduates in this demographic are not fully prepared for the workforce because they "can't handle the workload" and "are unprofessional."

"Paring recent grads with mentors in the company can also pay huge dividends as that can provide Gen Z workers with the guidance, feedback, and support for them to succeed," Nguyen said.