“Generally, today’s graduates are wanting employers to give them more before they actually show their commitment and what they can do for the company. They do not want to work overtime. They want more flexible time.” (A small employer).

“Social cues from media hype, devices of digital distraction, and lack of corporate leadership and integrity have effectively gutted willingness to sacrifice in advance of rewards. There is a strong resistance to demonstrate competence in advance of financial rewards.” (A small employer).

“More able to work in a team. Much better technical/computer skills. Less concerned with tact, i.e. making a good impression when offered jobs they don’t want. They choose to not return job offer calls, instead of calling back to thank employers for the offer and respectfully decline. Demanding specific schedules –- nursing grads are refusing night shift opportunities when ten years ago that was the only way for a nurse to get a job.” (Health services).

“Graduates today believe they will be compensated well for just having a degree without having related work experiences. Ten years ago graduates took positions that may have paid less to get the work experience. I think the reason for the shift between recent graduates is that they have more responsibility (student loans, cost of rent, gas prices, health insurance are more costly now).” (Real estate).

“They are very smart but they don’t seem as motivated. They don’t want to put in the effort to advance. They want instant gratification and are very impatient [and] thheir writing skills are poor.” (Accounting)

“These individuals are more knowledgeable about technology and typically have greater work experience in high school and college. However, recent graduates seem to take longer to develop into professionals (in terms of being committed to doing a good/thorough job) and have displayed an amazing lack of knowledge of history, geography and social sciences.” (Monetary Authority).

We can not do the wealth of information in these comments justice in the space allocated here. Employers described the student of today in these terms as compared to a student 8 to 10 years ago. Today’s students are:

Well traveled
Technically adept
Team player
Ambitious
Better educated
Learns on own (as dictated by
technology)
Holds high expectations for
themselves
Relaxed, casual
Seeks quality of life – balance
Freedom to make choices (has a lot)
Highly confident

Their comparisons do not end here. In the same breath, they continue their description with a seemingly opposite set of characteristics. You would find it hard to believe that they were describing the same student when characterized as:

Unmotivated
Lacks focus (no long term goals)
Feels entitled, often arrogant
Communicates poorly
Self-centered/self-absorbed
Acts immaturely (poor social skills)
Short attention span
Reacts passively
Avoids risks (won’t accept challenges)
Fears failure
Lacks a sense of responsibility
Depends on others
Shows little work ethic

Complicating matters are several characteristics which fell right in between the two profiles described above. These characteristics could be placed on either the positive or the negative side of the ledger.

Money (some can do with less, others want the big bucks)
Skills and abilities (some exaggerate their skills without the experience to back their claims; others are so modest they understate themselves)
Passion (some are excited and eager with something burning inside them; others just pass through)
Parents (some parents let their children fly; others keep influencing them long past graduation)
Success (some are driven; others have not turned on the switch)
Careers (it’s all about doing something meaningful; it’s all about the money)
Starting point (the bottom or the top)
Change (comply, don’t rock the boat; change procedures as situation
dictates)

As one employer added, “the world has changed so much [in the last decade] the work environment has very different expectations.” The lingering impression is that maybe older generations are trying to fit a round peg into a flat economy—that is, students and experienced workers are living in two very different paradigms. And young people are trying to find a shape that compliments flat. For those of us who mediate between employers and students, we have a monumental challenge in preparing both parties to meet each other.

Excerpt from Recruting Trends 2005 - 2006