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Bad news for recent college grads — your bosses aren't fans. A survey found that 6 in 10 bosses gave Gen Z employees the boot this year — and 1 in 6 companies are now hesitant to hire Gen Z employees.
Why are bosses so unimpressed with the latest generation to join the workforce? As you might expect, it's complicated.
As you might expect from a generation that grew up during a pandemic, many employers are finding that some Zoomers aren't prioritizing work. While previous generations assumed they'd have to shine (and spend plenty of time) in the office to impress the boss, Gen Z has had a crash course in learning that life is short. But that lack of motivation or initiative is referenced as a problem by 50% of the employers surveyed.
Considering that many Gen Z employees had internships over Zoom and may lack extensive real-life office experience, this may not come as a surprise. Not surprisingly, colleges like Michigan State University are offering students classes on how to behave and even write a work-appropriate e-mail.
Roughly 45% of bosses say organization is a problem for Gen Z hires, likely because so much of their time is spent on phones — a remarkable 7.2 hours per day.
Even Gen Z workers admit they have a hard time drumming up conversation with coworkers. A full 65% of them admit they aren't great at communication, according to a recent Harris poll.
No one likes getting feedback if it's negative, and apparently Gen Z would prefer a different approach. Instead of an annual performance review, they'd like continuous feedback to stay in the moment and make changes quickly. This might be more work for bosses, but 38% of them have found young workers have a problem with feedback, so it could solve the problem.
Well, this one is tricky. Though 40% of managers complained Gen Z workers didn't have relevant work experience, that seems like an easy fix once someone is, oh, doing the job you're asking them to do. And if this is their first job post-college, what are you expecting?
Blame the Internet. With answers to most everything just a click away, Gen Z is used to getting info without deep thought, which leads to not developing in-depth analytical skills. Believe it or not, tech is likely rewiring the brains of Gen Z — and not in a good way.
It's hard to believe a generation that grew up playing computer games and typing away on social media wouldn't be up to snuff in this category, but it turns out Excel isn't like Mario Kart. A London school is actually instituting a 12-hour day to get students up to speed on workplace norms — and phones are not allowed.
This sounds like a euphemism for "get this jerk out the door," but the good news is that, once Gen Z improves their communication skills, they might be pivotal in building a workplace that's more inclusive and diverse.
Gen Z is known for preferring to work independently but wanting constant guidance and a work-life balance that older employees may feel comes with time spent on the job, so their team-building skills often fall short. This might be the time for workplaces to create mentorships, in part to take pressure off of bosses who are frustrated with their Gen Z workers.
While it seems hard to say anyone whose developmental years happened during the pandemic is entitled, chances are Gen Z grew up with overly involved helicopter parents, too. Bosses see this generation as expecting high pay and promotions too early and putting work-life balance above their workplace — which doesn't win any fans.
About 20% of managers say Gen Z workers are often late to work, and no one wants someone rolling into the office well after the work day has started. Short of reminding tardy workers how to set the alarm function on their phones (which you know they already know), you can see why so many bosses are reluctant to hire Gen Z next year.
Well, this one seems like an easy fix if a boss just says something, like sweatpants are a workplace no, but it requires a difficult conversation which can also result in a call to HR. Roughly 19% of bosses felt this was a problem, and it suggests no one should buy their work clothes through the TikTok shop unless they work from home.
Gen Z workers might feel overwhelmed by what their bosses expect from them — and more than one-fifth (21%) of hiring managers say recent college grads can’t manage the workload.