More and more companies are firing Gen Z within months of hiring

If until recently it was parents and teachers who were complaining about Gen Z—dealing with bold and outspoken teenagers, politically engaged and radically empathetic—now it's their employers who are clashing with these young people raised with a phone in hand, and they're already tired of it. Despite a recent study showing that Gen Z girls have matured prematurely due to the Covid-19 pandemic, new research from Intelligent reveals that one in six companies is hesitant to hire recent graduates. After interviewing 966 different companies on hiring practices, the platform found that 75% of companies find Gen Z’s work unsatisfactory, and that in the past year, 6 out of 10 have even fired at least one recent graduate. The reasons given by the managers and HR staff interviewed include lack of motivation (50%), lack of professionalism (46%), and poor organizational skills (42%)—closely followed by poor communication skills and difficulties in responding to feedback. The sixth reason remains surprising: a lack of relevant work experience—as if it were easy for a recent graduate, who has just entered the workforce, to present a well-rounded resume at their first job interview.

For employers, what makes Gen Z’s work unsatisfactory is a lack of initiative. The company heads interviewed by Intelligent said that in the past year, they found themselves working with young people who were frequently late, didn’t dress appropriately for the office, or were unable to use proper language in the workplace. The study reports that more than half of hiring managers believe recent graduates are not ready for the world of work, a phenomenon that schools around the world are trying to address: while in Italy the infamous “school-to-work” initiatives continue to bridge students with various professions, a London high school is experimenting with a 12-hour school day to prepare students for working life. At the conclusion of the study, employers were asked what are the main traits that motivate them to hire recent graduates: a positive attitude and more initiative. Intelligent’s training consultant Huy Nhuyen advises young employees to observe their surroundings and the behavior of their colleagues to learn how to make a good impression: «ask questions, seek feedback, and apply it to demonstrate your personal growth»—he adds—«Build a reputation for reliability by maintaining a positive attitude, meeting deadlines, and volunteering for projects.» In short, if Gen Z wants to keep a steady job, they’ll need to roll up their sleeves and show some grit—worst case, there’s always freelance work.