Employers express growing hesitation about hiring from the class of 2025, with many citing issues around professionalism, work ethic and excessive phone use among recent college graduates, according to a new survey.
Only 58% of companies plan to hire from this year’s graduating class, reflecting skepticism about young workers’ preparedness for professional environments, a Resume.org survey of 1,000 hiring managers found.
The April survey revealed that 8 in 10 hiring managers reported having recent college graduates who didn’t work out at their company in the past year. Among those unsuccessful hires, 65% were eventually terminated.
“Colleges don’t teach students how to behave in the workplace, and there is a lack of transitional support from both universities and employers,” said Resume.Org’s Career Coach Irina Pichura. “Most students graduate with little exposure to professional environments, so when they arrive at their first job, they’re often learning basic workplace norms for the first time.”
The top issues managers cited with recent graduates included a lack of motivation or initiative (48%), lack of professionalism (39%), and excessive phone use (39%). Poor time management (38%) and an attitude of indifference (37%) rounded out the top five concerns.
Workplace behaviors raising red flags
Excessive smartphone use emerged as the most prevalent complaint, with 87% of managers reporting that recent graduates are “often” or “sometimes” on their phones during work hours.
Other common workplace challenges included:
- 72% say recent graduates often or sometimes struggle with workload management
- 66% report tardiness to work
- 62% cite poor quality work
- 60% report late assignment submissions
- 59% find recent graduates difficult to manage
About 17% of hiring managers admitted feeling apprehensive about hiring a recent Generation Z college graduate for an entry-level role, with 3% describing themselves as “extremely hesitant.”
What employers want to see
When asked what qualities would make them more inclined to hire recent graduates, managers prioritized initiative (57%), positive attitude (53%), strong work ethic (52%), adaptability (51%), and openness to feedback (50%).
Pichura advised that during interviews, candidates should “come prepared with ideas and research. It’s not enough to just glance at the company website. Bringing insights about the company’s goals, challenges, or industry trends, and asking thoughtful questions, signals curiosity and initiative.”
For those who do secure positions, Pichura emphasized that demonstrating initiative shouldn’t stop after being hired.
“Even in an entry-level role, new hires can stand out by looking for small ways to own tasks, solve problems, and offer solutions before being asked,” said Pichura. “Volunteering for stretch assignments and asking for feedback shows a desire to grow. Initiative isn’t just about starting something; it’s about improving.”
