Gen Z Grads Are Being Fired Within Months Of Being Hired
Hired, Then Fired: Why Gen Z Can’t Seem To Keep Their Jobs
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If you’re a Gen Z grad looking to maintain steady employment, now wouldn’t be the best time to slack off at work.
A September 2024 report from Intelligent, a platform focused on guiding young professionals in their careers, revealed that many U.S. employers are firing Gen Z employees just months after hiring them. The study found that 60% of employers have already let go of Gen Z workers they recently hired directly out of college.
Surveying nearly 1,000 U.S. business leaders, Intelligent found that 94% of companies reported hiring recent college graduates. However, only 25% of these companies were satisfied with all their new hires, while 62% felt that only some were successful. Alarmingly, 14% said that only a few or none of their new hires performed well. Three-quarters of the employers surveyed noted that their new graduate hires fell short in various ways.
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The report also revealed that 79% of companies had to put some of their underperforming Gen Z employees on performance improvement plans (PIPS), with 60% ultimately letting them go. As previously reported, PIPs are becoming more common in workplaces, but some experts believe they may be causing more harm than benefit. Typically, employees on PIPs are given challenging goals to achieve within a 30 to 90-day period. While these plans are intended to address underperformance and help employees improve, some business professionals argue that they may create excessive pressure. Employees often fear termination if they fail to meet the outlined goals, leading to heightened stress and a focus on overperforming rather than making sustainable improvements.
Why are Gen Z grads getting canned?
Hiring managers have several concerns about recent college graduates entering the workforce.
A significant portion of hiring managers, 65%, feel that recent graduates exhibit a sense of entitlement, and 63% believe they are easily offended. More than half (55%) feel that these graduates lack a strong work ethic, while 54% note that they don’t respond well to feedback.
Additionally, 53% of hiring managers think Gen Z graduates are unprepared for the workplace and struggle with communication; 21% reported that recent graduates often struggle to manage their workload, and about 20% cited frequent tardiness in starting work. Other concerns included unprofessional attire (19%), inappropriate language (19%), and habitual lateness to meetings (18%). Around 17% of hiring managers said Gen Z graduates are difficult to manage, and 15% said they often submit assignments late, the Intelligent study noted.
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What can Gen Z grads do to improve their work skills?
Huy Nguyen, Intelligent’s Chief Education and Career Development Advisor, believes that Gen Z grads may be having a hard time transitioning from the ease of college to the high demands of the workforce.
“Many recent college graduates may struggle with entering the workforce for the first time as it can be a huge contrast from what they are used to throughout their education journey. They are often unprepared for a less structured environment, workplace cultural dynamics, and the expectation of autonomous work,” he explained. “Although they may have some theoretical knowledge from college, they often lack the practical, real-world experience and soft skills required to succeed in the work environment. These factors, combined with the expectations of seasoned workers, can create challenges for both recent grads and the companies they work for.”
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Gen Z grads may have a tough time getting hired in 2025, as 1 in 7 companies may not hire recent graduates straight out of college, the report noted. Nguyen believes that young workers will need to put in extra effort to stand out in the job market. He suggested that young workers should closely observe how colleagues interact to better understand the company culture at any new organization they join. This approach can help them gauge the best ways to communicate and work efficiently with their co-workers.
Additionally, the report highlighted that 9 in 10 hiring managers believe recent graduates would benefit from business etiquette training, making it a wise investment for improving workplace skills.
“Take the initiative to ask thoughtful questions, seek feedback, and apply it to show your motivation for personal growth,” Nguyen emphasized. “Build a reputation for dependability by maintaining a positive attitude, meeting deadlines, and volunteering for projects, even those outside your immediate responsibilities.”
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