Bosses are firing Gen Z grads just months after hiring them, here's why

Many companies, months after hiring Gen Z workers right out of college, are firing them due to concerns about their work ethics, communication skills and readiness to work.

Intelligent. com, a platform that helps young professionals navigate the future of work, after surveying 1000 US leaders released a report.

According to the report, 6 in 10 employers have fired some of the Gen Z workers they hired right out of college. One in 6 bosses after facing issues with Gen Z workers while 1 in 7 said they are inclined to avoid hiring them altogether.

Three quarters of the companies surveyed said in some way the some or all of the recent graduates they hired were unsatisfactory.

Intelligent’s chief education and career development adviser Huy Nguyen said in the report, “Many recent college graduates may struggle with entering the workforce for the first time as it can be a huge contrast from what they are used to throughout their education journey.”

“Although they may have some theoretical knowledge from college, they often lack the practical, real-world experience and soft skills required to succeed in the work environment,” Nguyen said.

One of the main issues employers have with Gen Z workers is their lack of motivation or initiative. Fifty per cent of the bosses surveyed cited the aforementioned reason for things not working with their new hire.

Unprofessional, unorganised and poor communication skills were some of the top reasons cited by bosses for firing their Gen Z employees.

Bosses have struggled with the generation's challenges, being late to work and meeting frequently, not wearing office-appropriate clothing and using language appropriate for the workspace.

According to a report by the New York Post, some experts put the onus on the education system which did not prepare students for real-world work.

“Education today emphasizes theory over practice. Sure, learning Greek mythology is fascinating, but unless you’re teaching it, how does that prepare you to communicate effectively in a corporate meeting or demonstrate professionalism? It doesn’t,” HR consultant Bryan Driscoll said as per the report.

According to the survey, more than half of hiring managers believe college graduates are unprepared for the world of work and over 20 per cent say they can not handle the work load.

While other contested these generalisations about Gen Z as misplaced.

Jessica Kriegel, chief strategy officer of workforce and labor at Culture Partners, said, “Most of these stereotypes are ingrained in culture about each generation and the short stick torch is passed every 20 years.”

A positive attitude and more initiatives is what bosses say will make college graduates more hirable.

“Take the initiative to ask thoughtful questions, seek feedback, and apply it to show your motivation for personal growth,” Nguyen said. “Build a reputation for dependability by maintaining a positive attitude, meeting deadlines, and volunteering for projects, even those outside your immediate responsibilities.”

As per a report by Fortune, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently said "an embarrassing amount of your success in your twenties depends on your attitude—and the reason why is simple: Managers would rather work with positive people."

Some believe that a go-getter attitude at work can propel young people's careers more than a college degree.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg claimed that raw talent and personality trump credentials.