A new survey from Intelligent.com reveals that a growing number of hiring managers view recent college graduates as unprepared, entitled, and lacking basic workplace skills. Twenty-four percent of respondents said graduates are not ready for employment, while 33% cited a poor work ethic and 29% described graduates as entitled. One in eight hiring managers plan to avoid college graduates entirely in 2025.
The survey of 1,000 hiring managers uncovered numerous deficiencies among graduates. Forty-nine percent reported poor eye contact during interviews, 42% cited inappropriate attire, and 38% noted unrealistic salary demands. Notably, 8% said applicants brought a parent to the interview. More than half of the respondents had fired a recent graduate in 2024, underscoring widespread employer dissatisfaction.
HigherEdDive also reported that 54% of employers believe graduates are difficult to manage, often distracted by phones and lacking time management. Managers now seek candidates with practical experience and soft skills—traits they say are missing from most recent graduates.
This trend reflects a broader breakdown in higher education’s role in preparing young adults for the workforce. While tuition prices rise and ideological programming expands, basic workplace preparation appears to be declining.
