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Recent college graduates face significant challenges in securing meaningful employment, with HR leaders increasingly favoring alternatives like robots or freelancers over fresh graduates. A recent survey reveals that 9 out of 10 companies avoid hiring recent graduates, often opting for retired workers, freelancers, robots, or leaving positions unfilled.
Educators and HR leaders advocate for a shift in higher education approaches, embracing “stepladder” models to prepare students for their first jobs with on-the-job experience. Hult International Business School proposes business challenges as an experiential learning tool, while mentorship and career clarity initiatives are gaining traction.
The financial impact is notable, with HR leaders estimating $4,500 in training savings per hire if new graduates were better prepared. However, a critical skills gap exists, particularly in AI readiness: only 23% of graduates feel prepared, despite its vital role perceived by HR leaders.
Recent graduates also express regret over their degree choices, citing inadequate guidance from counselors and feeling doomed to fail due to poor academic focus. Keith Brown emphasizes the shared responsibility across education, employers, and themselves in addressing this workforce mismatch.
In conclusion, while colleges explore innovative solutions like experiential learning and mentorship, addressing the skills gap and student dissatisfaction remains a collective challenge.
Source: https://www.worklife.news/talent/recent-college-grads-are-not-ready-for-work-and-hr-leaders-are-fed-up