More than one-third of hiring managers across the United States expressed reluctance to hire Gen Z candidates for entry-level positions in a recent survey from Resume Builder. When asked, 31% of the 782 hiring managers surveyed indicated they prefer more seasoned professionals for the job.

This generation divide in the workplace causes concern and raises questions about why hiring managers may be reticent to hire younger workers. A potential concern could be the deficiency in soft skills among younger employees. Some management thinks younger workers often lack the essential soft skills necessary to thrive in the workplace.

Generation Z, or Zoomers, are the young people born between 1997 and 2012. In terms of numbers, Gen Z will represent 27% of the workforce in OECD countries by 2025. With 69.58 million Zoomers, they constitute the second most populous generational group in the United States — right behind millennials.

Generation Z: The Future of the ­Workforce

“The future workforce depends on Gen Z. It is the one-click, all-digital generation, growing up in a borderless world,” predicted the World Economic Forum in 2022.

Gen Z is the first to grow up in a wholly digital age. Zoomers offer a glimpse into the future social fabric of the country. Gen Z is more ethnically and racially diverse than its predecessors, more likely to have a college degree, more likely to care about social justice and climate change, and more likely to support LGBTQ+ rights.

Contrary to popular belief, Gen Z does want to work. However, Zoomers’ job priorities are very dissimilar from previous generations. While salary is still crucial, personal and professional fulfillment is equally important; Gen Z experiences difficulty choosing between a well-paying but tedious job and a more appealing position with lower pay.

“What Gen Z wants is to do meaningful work with a sense of autonomy and flexibility and work-life balance and work with people who work collaboratively,” Dr. Julie Lee told the Washington Post. A self-styled Gen Z strategist, she works as the Director of Technology and Mental Health at Harvard Alumni for Mental Health.

Gen Z prioritizes their morals and values. They are committed to diversity and inclusion — not just in terms of race and gender but also in sexual orientation and gender identity. Moreover, they are unwilling to compromise, as more than half of Zoomer survey respondents say they would quit if not given remote work options.

Hiring Managers Say They Don’t Want Zoomers

Originally, entry-level positions served to kickstart the careers of recent graduates with little to no work experience. After the Great Recession, companies hired experienced workers for these roles. The growing trend prompted the Wall Street Journal to question in 2014: “Where did all the entry-level jobs go?”

Resume Builder’s January 2024 survey reveals that not much has changed in a decade. However, hiring managers now report more problems with Gen Z candidates than short resumes; two of five hiring managers (40%) feel Zoomers’ salary demands are unreasonable.

Additionally, formal job interviews challenge a generation that values individual identity and self-expression. At least 30% of survey respondents believe Gen Z candidates do not adequately prepare for interviews or ask enough questions. Many hiring managers express that Zoomers struggle to maintain eye contact when speaking and often appear disinterested or disengaged.

Of Gen Z applicants, hiring managers’ other reported professional faux pas include inappropriate attire (58%), lying during interviews or on resumes (21%), and unprofessional language (19%). A surprising 9% of respondents shared that a candidate had brought their parent to an interview.

Gen Z’s workplace behavior is the final nail in the coffin for many hiring managers, as about 60% perceive a sense of entitlement among Zoomer employees. Hiring managers think this younger generation is easily offended, does not respond well to feedback, and lacks work ethic and motivation.

Nearly one in three hiring managers (30%) admit they dismissed a Zoomer within a month of their start date.

Which Generation Do Hiring Managers Prefer?

Nearly three in four hiring managers consider it “more difficult” to work with Gen Z than with any other generation, per an April 2023 Resume Builder survey. Of the 1,344 managers polled, 74% identified Zoomers as their most challenging employees.

Hiring managers also indicated which generations they would like as coworkers. Of those reporting Gen Zers as the most challenging employees, 34% preferred hiring millennials — those born between 1981 and 1996. These respondents report that millennials are more productive and have stronger technological skills.

Generation X — those born between 1965 and 1980 — came in as the first runner-up. This group is favored because hiring managers feel they are the most honest and productive in the office. Baby boomers, the eldest generation in the workplace, came in last at 4%.

Why Is Gen Z Struggling?

“Unlike previous generations, Gen Z faced unique challenges in acquiring foundational workplace skills because of COVID-19,” writes Stacie Haller, Resume Builder’s Chief Career Advisor and job search expert.

Due to the pandemic, many Gen Z candidates spent a significant portion of their college and high school years in remote or hybrid settings.

“This departure from the traditional in-person learning environment impacted their ability to hone crucial skills, such as effective communication, handling constructive criticism, and observing others to build their professional acumen,” Haller explains.

Not all hope is gone for Zoomers. Despite these challenges, a silver lining exists for Gen Z job seekers with a robust academic background or considerable work experience. Hiring managers indicate they are more inclined to consider such candidates, even if they generally avoid hiring from this generation.

In addition to job-related knowledge, Zoomer applicants can focus on developing the soft skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. LinkedIn’s Workforce Confidence Index shows that Gen Z is eager for jobs with learning opportunities and personal growth potential. Luckily, professionalism, networking, work ethic, and problem-solving are all teachable qualities.

“For Gen Z job seekers, it’s crucial to understand that soft skills play a pivotal role in the success of entry-level candidates,” Haller recommends.

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This article was produced by Media Decision and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.