Hiring Managers Believe New College Grads are Unprepared for the Workforce

MELVILLE, N.Y., May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty-six percent of hiring managers believe that new college graduates are unprepared for the workplace that awaits them, according to a recent survey of hiring managers from Adecco Staffing US, the nation's leading provider of recruitment and workforce solutions. The survey found that, in fact, 58 percent of hiring managers are not planning to hire new grads and of those who are, 69 percent only plan to hire one or two.

When it comes to finding a job in this competitive job market, a flawless resume is critical. More than half (54 percent) of hiring managers don't even offer interviews to job candidates with weak resumes. What often gets a candidate in the door is attention to detail.  Hiring managers are most likely to cite spelling errors (43 percent) as the most common misstep that causes them to disqualify a candidate from consideration.  Spelling errors were considered a more unacceptable offense than any other gaffe including time gaps on a resume (5 percent).

To rise to the top of the resume pile, young adults must focus on being personable and engaged during the interview process. One-third (34 percent) of hiring managers said young adults' inability to directly and clearly answer questions and articulate their skills and experience during the interview are main factors for them not getting the job. Other slip-ups include: lack of eye contact (33 percent), checking phone/texting (30 percent), fidgeting (26 percent), and bad posture (22 percent). Some hiring managers (12 percent) also consider discussing the interview on social networks a mistake. Survey respondents also advise job candidates to be engaged, actively asking and answering questions, and authentic (33 percent and 29 percent respectively).

"The message from America's hiring managers on what makes a winning candidate is loud and clear," said Joyce Russell, president of Adecco Staffing US. "Beyond the tactical advice, the soft skills like confidence, a respectful demeanor and showing a genuine interest in the job are equally important for new grads to separate themselves from the competition during an interview."

Other survey findings include:

Objectives are NOT a thing of the past.  Perhaps surprisingly, objectives and goal statements on resumes still prove relevant, as 39 percent of respondents say those two things, in addition to work experience and internships, can get you an interview.

Put your best (and best dressed) foot forward. Half  (50 percent) of the hiring managers surveyed said one of the biggest interview mistakes young adults make is dressing inappropriately, while 44 percent said showing up late or on the wrong date was the biggest flub.

Be reasonable. Of the respondents, 36 percent said they have seen candidates with an aggressive approach when it comes to personal job expectations, including time off, salary vacation days, and benefits, which can be detrimental for their chance of getting the job.

A little experience goes a long way. Most hiring managers (84 percent) say they only look for one or two internships.  For job candidates without experience, many (47 percent) hiring managers suggest being flexible and starting out in a different area of the company.

Concentrate on the basics. As far as qualifications go, previous paid work experience (36 percent) and level of education (28 percent) are two of the most important factors for hiring managers when considering a job candidate. Interestingly enough, GPA and the prestige of the college/university that the applicants attended are considered among the least important qualifications for a job.

"Today's college graduates are entering a highly competitive job market, so honing their skills to develop a standout resume and ace an interview are extremely critical," said Russell. "For many new grads, the job search itself can become full time work, but in the end, those who take the time and use all of the resources at their disposal to prepare will be best positioned to land a job."

Methodology

This telephone survey was conducted by Braun Research on behalf of Adecco among a sample of 500 hiring managers. The survey was fielded March 4 - 8, 2013. Results have a margin of error of +/- 4.4% at the 95% confidence level.

About Adecco Staffing US
Adecco Staffing US is the nation's leading provider of recruitment and workforce solutions. It is the pre-eminent workforce management partner for Fortune 500 companies and career advisement expert for American workers, serving all of the key industries and professions that drive the US economy forward. Adecco has more than 900 career centers and, on any given day, connects 70,000 talented workers to the best job opportunities across the country, making them one of America's largest employers. Visit adeccousa.com for more information.

About the Adecco Group:
The Adecco Group, based in Zurich, Switzerland, is the world's leading provider of HR solutions. With more than 29,000 FTE employees and more than 5,800 offices, in more than 60 countries and territories around the world, Adecco Group offers a wide variety of services, connecting more than 500,000 colleagues with more than 100,000 clients every day. The services offered fall into the broad categories of temporary staffing, permanent placement, outsourcing, consulting, and outplacement. The Adecco Group is a Fortune Global 500 company.

Adecco S.A. is registered in Switzerland (ISIN: CH0012138605) and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ADEN).

About Adecco Group North America:
Every day we provide our clients with the talent they need, and help solve the business challenges they face today – and will encounter tomorrow. Our clients rely on us for a wide range of workforce solutions including:

• Contingent staffing and direct hire recruitment for large enterprise organizations across all skill sets
• Workforce solutions and consulting including Managed Services Programs (MSP) & Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO)
• Career transition and leadership consulting
• Specialty staffing, project solutions and consulting services

Additional information is available through our websites at www.adeccogroupna.com and www.adeccousa.com.

SOURCE Adecco Group North America