Over 40% of hiring managers wouldn’t consider hiring recent college graduates

In a recent survey of 1,000 hiring managers, over 40% said they wouldn't consider hiring from the graduating college class.

Over. Forty. Percent.

When you dig into the issues that employers sometimes or often see with recent college grads, the findings are interesting. Seventy-two percent struggle to manage their workload. Sixty-six percent show up late to work. Sixty-two percent produce poor quality work. Sixty percent turn in work products late. Fifty-nine percent are difficult to manage. Fifty-eight percent dress inappropriately. Fifty-six percent use improper workplace language. And fifty-five percent arrive late to meetings.

I am surprised by none of these findings. So, why are they interesting to me?

because they contradict
university apologists

When people like me tell them that universities don’t prepare kids for the workplace, they say something akin to: “Sure they may not provide the technical skills, but college gives students the soft skills. It allows kids to mature, learn responsibility and accountability, develop a work ethic, and come out more cultured.”

Really? Maturity? That seems contrary to the findings on manageability, inappropriate dress, and improper language. Responsibility and accountability? Not according to the findings on workload management, tardiness, work quality, late deliverables, manageability, and punctuality. Work ethic? The tardiness, quality, and late deliverables findings would contradict that. Cultured? That’s not what the inappropriate dress and improper language findings say.

So, kids, take this piece of advice from your Uncle Jeremy . . .

Don’t believe it when people tell you about the emperor’s crimson velvet robe trimmed with white ermine fur, his gold-embroidered tunic cinched by a bejeweled belt, and the heavy gem-encrusted crown atop his head.

He’s naked as a jaybird.