WASHINGTON (TND) — A recent survey found nearly 40% of employers avoid hiring recent college graduates in favor of older employees.
Survey reveals tough job market for Gen Z grads due to employer preferences (TND)
According to Intelligent.com, Gen Z college graduates are struggling with many aspects of professional life.
Their survey of 800 U.S. managers, directors, and executives who are involved in hiring, found these key results:
38% of employers avoid hiring recent college graduates in favor of older employees
1 in 5 employers have had a recent college graduate bring a parent to a job interview
58% say recent college graduates are unprepared for the workforce
Nearly half of employers have had to fire a recent college graduate
Let’s stop this idiotic hazing ritual. 15 years ago I was a recent grad and people were saying similar stuff. These attitudes kept people my age out of many workplaces. It was shortsighted.
I was rejected many times before I got my first job, and managers in my first roles used my age against me a lot, especially when I didn’t stay in my lane. Finally a company removed my leash and treated me as an opportunity rather than a threat, and they got a big return on that investment, but it took years to find a place like that.
We were acquired and I’m doing other stuff now, but when I see my products in the wild, I sometimes wonder about all those hiring managers who couldn’t see past my age. Did they ever learn that unreplaceable means unpromotable? Did they ever learn to have a bench? What would we have built together if they weren’t so afraid of change?
Of course this is just one story, and profit isn’t a proper motive for doing what’s right. But those who don’t care that ageism is bad for society should at least consider that it’s bad for business and their careers.
The thing is people come and go through this phase of life relatively briefly. Then it’s not their problem anymore. Nobody is in it long enough to care to change it.
Maybe so, but if our generation knows what it’s like to find the ladders pulled up, and we don’t care enough to put them back for the younger people behind us, who will?