Nexxt Survey Says College Students Aren't Ready for Work

Job seekers are encountering new challenges in today’s career marketplace, and many are unprepared for what they find, reports a study released on May 20, 2014. Detailing responses from nearly 3,000 job seekers and employers nationwide, the study highlights the attributes that are most valued in today's workplace. While some results are predictable, others come as something of a surprise.

The study, a joint effort from Millennial Branding and Nexxt, points out a number of issues that distance young job seekers from the opportunities they desire. For example, college graduates get low scores from most employers in the area of job preparedness and interviewing skills. In fact, only 2 percent of hiring managers believe that schools are adequately preparing students for the challenges of today’s workplace, leaving many companies with a limited pool of qualified applicants from whom to choose, reports U.S. News. As baby boomers decrease their hours or exit the workplace entirely, this scarcity of suitable young applicants is leaving many employers scrambling for job seekers who are a good fit. A more efficient marketplace is needed to correct this discrepancy, says Bob LaBombard, CEO of GradStaff, a Minneapolis-based firm that recruits and interviews college grads.

Although overall unemployment numbers are gradually improving in most of the U.S., employment figures for young job seekers aged 20 to 24 are still disappointingly low, hovering at just about 11 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2014 report. Young job seekers with liberal arts degrees face the fiercest competition, while those with degrees in engineering, information technology, nursing and medicine are most in demand. Nevertheless, a degree is a just a small piece of the overall picture, say the majority of hiring managers. A positive attitude, good communication skills and the ability to work as a member of a team are just as important than a degree, if not more important. Being prepared for an interview is also crucial for any job applicant, particularly a recent graduate. "You hire a person, not a resume," says Nexxt CEO Rich Milgram, adding that job seekers need to "show them your passion and present yourself in the best possible light."

For employers vying for qualified applicants, the report highlights important responses from job seekers as well. Younger people rate a competitive salary and meaningful work more highly than benefits like health care and a retirement plan. A large percentage of them are saddled with enormous amounts of student loan debt. Employers who offer a lucrative, long-term career are more likely to attract these young people than those offering contractual or short-term work. Start-ups and entrepreneurial enterprises are attractive to all age groups. Forty-seven percent of job seekers aged 21 to 32 and 60 percent of those 20 and younger are willing to work at a start-up, as are 43 to 45 percent of those 33 and above.

The workplace of the 21st century presents challenges and opportunities for hiring managers and job applicants alike. Employers must offer meaningful work that provides adequate financial incentives for young people struggling to meet changing workplace demands and large amounts of student debt. On the opposite end of the spectrum, job seekers young and old must step up their game if they want to outshine the competition and snag the positions they want.

(Photo courtesy of Franky242 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)