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A third of employers are unhappy with graduate attitudes to work-are you?

From their supposed love of avocado toast to the apparent adhesive nature of their smartphones, millennials are no strangers to criticism. However, a startling new study has found that a third of employers are unhappy with graduate attitudes to work, naming their lack of resilience and self-management skills as their two main faults. But do you think millennials have a bad work ethic?

The Education and Skills survey, by the CBI and Pearson and quoted in The Telegraph, saw 344 companies questioned on their opinions on graduate recruitment, as well as school leavers, apprentices and recent graduates. A third of respondents slated millennial workers for their shortcomings, with a third noting their lack of cultural awareness and 40% stating that they lacked customer awareness.

The report found that while 75% of businesses were looking to increase the number of high-skilled jobs they recruit for, some 61% were afraid they would be unable to fill the positions.

Crescens George, chief operating officer of Be Wiser Insurance group, spoke to the Telegraph about his concerns that graduates are not prepared for “the real world of work” and normally need “ego-massaging”.

“You would expect that university education would teach some basic business etiquette, and certainly communication skills,” he explains.

He said one particular graduate had not been willing to work his way through the ranks. “I can only attribute this to the stress of having 50k debt [from university loans] hanging over his head, and of finding out that the real world of work is different to how it’s painted in the lecture rooms.”

“Had we not had to waste around 12-14 months on unnecessary graduate ego-massaging time, I am sure that this employee would have tasted his success sooner, and opened doors to leadership opportunities by now.”

Unfortunately, this is an opinion shared by many baby boomers. For Professor Cary Cooper of the Manchester Business School, two of their main failings are their lack of social skills and their inability to have face-to-face conversations. This is because “they have been raised on Facebook and texting,” he suggests.

But he claimed that graduates did have some redeeming features – for instance, they have an enthusiasm to learn. However, this comes with a veiled thorn, as it is due to millennials not wanting to stay in one company for too long.

“The new graduates have seen older employees, who have been at their companies for many years, dismissed and treated like disposable assets,” says Cooper. “They are trying to protect themselves. So, in other words, that traditional contract has been broken for that generation. They simply don’t have the same loyalties that were expected in the past.”

Millennials may reject the rigidity of the traditional 9 to 5, but we’d say that was due to their global vision, their desire for a better work-life balance and their daily use of technology. They are among the most creative, empathetic and educated individuals and would make a vital and valued addition to any office.

Why not see their strengths for yourself by registering your vacancies with GradLink today? We’ve got hundreds of CVs from international graduates who are passionate, engaged and ready to work – discover them now at GradLink.