Why employers prefer older professionals over Gen Z, college graduates: 'Unprepared, entitled'

800 managers, directors and executives involved in the hiring process were surveyed.

A new survey has found that employers prefer to hire older professionals more over recent college graduates. The survey also uncovered several reasons why older applicants are preferred including that Gen Z jobseekers are even bringing their parents to interviews.

The survey was conducted by Intelligent, an online magazine focused on student life, in December. The portal surveyed 800 managers, directors and executives involved in the hiring process. It was revealed that 39% of employers actively avoid hiring recent college graduates for roles they’re qualified for.

Out of the 800 people who were surveyed, 19% said a recent college graduate brought a parent with them to the job interview. In addition, one in five employers said that recent college graduates are “unprepared” for interviews — and are often unprofessional.

From the survey, 53% agreed that freshers struggle to make eye contact. Additionally, 50% of them said that graduates ask for unreasonable compensation, 47% said they don’t dress appropriately for interviews, and 21% claimed they refuse to turn their cameras on for virtual interviews.

On the other hand, 63% employers claimed that recent college graduates can’t manage their workload while 61% said they are frequently late to work. Moreover, 59% claimed they often miss deadlines, and 53% noted that they are frequently late to meetings.

However, Diane M. Gayeski, a professor of strategic communications at Ithaca College, suggested that these behaviours are not entirely their fault and a lot of it is circumstantial.

“Employers need to recognize that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people graduating from college had more than two years of disruption in their education as well as their social and professional development,” Gayeski said. “Current seniors were in their freshman year at the height of COVID. They likely took classes online and were unable to participate in clubs, internships or summer jobs.”

Meanwhile, people responsible for hiring are not huge fans of Gen Z behaviour either. According to 58% of them, Gen Z get offended too easily and are unprepared for the workforce in general. 63% noted that they are entitled, 57% remarked that they lacked professionalism, 55% said they don’t respond well to constructive feedback and 52% claimed that they have poor communication skills.

Out of the people who were surveyed, 47% admitted to firing a recent college graduate.

To avoid hiring a Gen Z or fresher, employers are offering more benefits to older employees, paying them higher salaries, allowing older workers to work remotely or in a hybrid environment and hiring them for overqualified roles.