WASHINGTON– Despite having a degree in hand, employers cite a lack of work ethic, hard skills and preparedness for their reluctance in hiring millennials fresh out of college, according to a new study.
Business leaders surveyed in the Bentley University study give recent graduates a “C” grade for preparedness, and 62 percent say the lack of preparedness “is a real problem.”
But not all the blame goes to the students.
The survey, which canvassed students, businesses and decision makers on a variety of subjects dealing with the millennial workforce, found that both colleges and students get bad grades on preparedness.
Some criticized employers for not being clear on what they truly want out of their employees from the outset.
Forbes.com broke down the survey results in a pair of reports, here and here.
The study also reflects a disconnect within the business sector. Fifty one percent of decision makers gave the business community a “C” grade or lower for not properly preparing graduates for the work force.
The issue of “soft skills,” like work style, attitude, integrity and communication were also examined. While 61 percent said millennials are easy to relate to, 66 percent said they are difficult to manage, and 51 percent said they lack respect for others.
The Bentley University study took place between Oct. 17 through Oct 25. Business leaders, recruiters, four-year college students, and recent college graduates were among the 3,149 people interviewed for the study.
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