Survey finds college grads lack professionalism

Listen to college students and grads speak, and count on your fingers the number of times they use "like" or "you know". You'll run out of fingers quickly. And ask yourself if you would hire a tattooed and pierced piece of "body art" to serve your customers who largely reject such gratuitous self-mutilation.

Ahh, the offspring of the Gen x'ers...

Why is so hard for them to say "you're welcome" after somebody says "Thank You"? It's like, "Yep", or "Uh huh".

It all goes back to parenting or lack of it! Kids aren't born polite, they have to be taught to be that way. POLITENESS in turn breeds PROFESSIONALISM IMO.

Returning change with a "Thank you"
has been replaced by "There you go"
(or nothing at all).

PArt of the problem is the the abundance of on line "social networking" sites that have erased the boundaries of social interaction and in some cases civility.
All this Twittering,texting and Tweeting has begat a couple of generations of twits.
That said, I have been blessed in my management career to have had some real great gen x'rs who have schooled me in the new technology. In quid pro quo situations, we trade hi tech advice and training for "ways of the world" lessons in business and how to survice in corporate america.
It works, sometimes these "slackers" just need a mentor just as we old goats (i use the term loosley as I am only 49) can use some schooling too!

How sad. However, OTOH thanks to "0" there are no jobs
for grads, today, anyway. But, take heart for when the real
Conservatives take over this will change for the better.

Caio

The level of professionalism in my classes (Finance) has declined over the past 20 years, but most of the decline has been the last 8 years. There is a cultural shift where students now have much more self esteem and less knowledge. They have less self discipline and fewer manners. All one needs to do to observe this is to count the number of students walking or sitting who either are texting someone they saw 20 minutes ago or talking to them on the phone. As someone noted on an earlier post they cannot carry a conversation without throwing in several "you know" "like" and "I mean". It is no wonder that employers are critical. Several employers have told me that they have to interview a larger pool then in the past to find acceptable candidates

Politeness, self-confidence, manners, etc. ALL start AT HOME, by the PARENTS.
But then again, the parents were not taught this, so it does not go to the next generation.
This is the new..."All About ME" generation, the "Give me what I demand or I will cry" generation.
Hell, the idiot in the White House is a perfect example of proper speaking.....uh, and uh, so uh, etc etc etc
Etiquette, manners and politeness went out the door a long time ago....and it is a shame.
Rudeness has taken its place.
I HAVE said things about courtesy to rude people, especially those that deal directly with the public/customers, and they look at me like I am speaking a foreign language.
It does NOT hurt, is NOT painful to say "Please", "Thank You", "Excuse Me", etc etc etc

"I believe that a high volume do have the professionalism...." Feeling? Belief? Or statement based on information? In the real world "I believe" doesn't cut it. It has to be supported with facts.

Communication skills. "Some can dress up and walk the walk," he said, "but they can't talk the talk." This analogy is expressed precisely backwards. If you can't say what you mean effectively, don't expect others to know what you "meant to say".

Law school? LOL.

Any other questions?

I earned my BA in 2003 and there was a handful of slacker/stoners but the majority didn't make it through the 4 years. Part of the issue could be the transition from college life to a wave of responsibility. I know if I missed a due date in school I could make some excuse and get it pushed back but I knew that wouldn't fly in the workplace. I think it all comes down to the individual and work ethic.

vinny63 wrote:

How sad. However, OTOH thanks to "0" there are no jobs
for grads, today, anyway. But, take heart for when the real
Conservatives take over this will change for the better.
Caio

Yes, ALL the jobs have disappeared since January. What color is the sky in your world?

The Elder wrote:

"I believe that a high volume do have the professionalism...." Feeling? Belief? Or statement based on information? In the real world "I believe" doesn't cut it. It has to be supported with facts.
Communication skills. "Some can dress up and walk the walk," he said, "but they can't talk the talk." This analogy is expressed precisely backwards. If you can't say what you mean effectively, don't expect others to know what you "meant to say".
Law school? LOL.
Any other questions?

I think you should rethink your statement elder. You can dress up anybody and put them in a suit hence they have the walk but if they can't talk or be fluent in the position they are working said person is useless. I think this kid's spin on the old saying is quite intelligent. I can't tell you the number of people who put on a suit and think they are important, when really a scarecrow would be just as effective as performing their position.

Professionalism in college students? They probably can't even spell it unless the "acronym it" for texting. Take a good look at the guy in the picture...and he's going to go to law school? Good grief, we're all in trouble.

One HUGE pet peeve is that employers that are hiring these nitwits could care less about what happens after they get them in the door. It's almost as if they are afraid to make them speak politely and be accountable for their actions. God forbid that someone may hurt their feelings or fire them because they decide to come in to work late or not at all.

Dr. Polk and Dr. Lepson have it right on the money. Many (I didn't type all) college students are barely capable of handling themselves, let alone make decisions on behalf of someone else and thei $$$. I hope employers see the value of us 40-somethings. Now all the 40-somethings need to do is get or keep their skills current!

Hey there.."Look at the Picture"...you are SOOOOO right in what you posted......
Glad someone else out there, in the 40-something (plus) crowd thinks like I do.

That is why corporate America is firing everyone over 45 and hiring all those new college grads. They are not only unprofessional they bring no experience. This is a very good thing for corporate America!!! And they wonder why America cannot compete. This county is finished, we are now like a bankrupt country like Argentina, and Americans are still scratching their heads wondering how did this ever happen. Most Americans are blind.

I'm not at all surprised employers feel this way. People in their early 20s can be professional and respectful and caring, but there's a much higher percentage of students exiting college who feel everything's owed to them. They don't care about what's appropriate or how anyone views them. They also subscribe to the "me first" philosophy. I still think there's more students who graduate that act professionally and show a sense of decency, but there's far more who don't than in the past.

My/wife's BS in 60's; sons BS in 80's...have seen precisely the same things mentioned in these post in those eras. Didn't think any of them (including myself) would amount to a damn; highly successful today. The cream WILL rise to the top; others, they will be weeded out forthwith. Parents, protect your dime and demand production from your children. Your children will do just fine, if YOU demand accountability. Don't listen to the naysayers who barely graduated from high school.

The military have jobs, they'll clean your (__*__)
up toot sweet.

only time will tell

"The skills to communicate...."

I note that many of them fail to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation in written correspondence and reports.