Employers: Entry-Level Applicants Are Just About Useless

[JEDI]

http://www.thestreet.com/story/1195...-level-applicants-are-just-about-useless.html

At perhaps a bad time in U.S. employment, it seems there's a "perception gap" between what workers think they're worth on the job and how employers see them.

there's also the issue of so-called "soft" job skills such as critical thinking and sophisticated problem-solving. Only 16% of the 18- to 34-year-olds surveyed see such skills as necessary for career advancement.


sense of entitlement?
everybody getting a trophy when they were a kid
helicopter parents
overprotective parents-> wrapping kids in bubble wrap

 

[Doppel]

I have no clue what compelled them to lump 18 year olds and 34 year olds together. The latter can be a decade deep in their career plus a degree.

Further I refuse to believe on 16% think critical thinking skills are important.

However I am surprised a lot of entry people are ever hired at all in some fields. For example I would take one senior software developer making $90k over three junior making $40k all day long. Even if he cost the same as them I would take him, on basically any project I can think of.

 

[michal1980]

employeers are just as bad. Entry level now means you have 3-4 years of experience but get paid like an intern

 

[Argo]

I have no clue what compelled them to lump 18 year olds and 34 year olds together. The latter can be a decade deep in their career plus a degree.

Further I refuse to believe on 16% think critical thinking skills are important.

However I am surprised a lot of entry people are ever hired at all in some fields. For example I would take one senior software developer making $90k over three junior making $40k all day long. Even if he cost the same as them I would take him, on basically any project I can think of.

Some fields (I.e software engineering) you may not have a choice. Senior software engineers are very hard to come by, most companies have no choice but to hire junior engineers and groom them.

Also, in what part of the country do senior engineers make $90k? That's pretty much entry level here on west coast.

 

[MovingTarget]

employeers are just as bad. Entry level now means you have 3-4 years of experience but get paid like an intern

This. They want to have someone with experience but pay them like they don't. Another thing to consider is that with a depressed job market, employers have used that as an excuse not to invest in the training of their employees. I fear that in a few years our labor force will have a significant experience gap that we haven't faced in quite some time.

 

[Jaskalas]

This mentality reminds me of WoW trade chat. People wanting you to carry them, allowing for no one to fill a spot if you dare need anything from it. Either you're over geared or you GTFO. Disgusted me then, and still does now.

Jobs need to be designed to clearly have a senior and a junior employee. The latter learning from the former. Employers that violate this principle are taking short cuts and when it is violated in mass they will severely damage the labor market.

Don't need central planning to solve this, but by god it'd be nice to have some intelligent planning.

 

[OverVolt]

They have nothing but themselves to blame partly. When you only take people with 4.0 GPA's and in 7 clubs as interns you get a certain type of person, a book smart one with zero common sense.

 

[child of wonder]

As someone with a great career and about to turn 34, I resent being lumped in with these generation Y/Millennial nitwits.

 

[Happy_Helper]

At perhaps a bad time in U.S. employment, it seems there's a "perception gap" between what workers think they're worth on the job and how employers see them.

Sure is a perception gap between those who think they are worth being paid something and those who employ who do not think they are worthy of being paid. If the economy improves much at all, employers will have to start paying people again, how sad.

 

[OverVolt]

As someone with a great career and about to turn 34, I resent being lumped in with these generation Y/Millennial nitwits.

They purposefully select the nimwits out of the application pile. 4.0 GPA's, participates in 7 clubs, and no common sense.

Gen Y was never really given a chance the job market has been hostile to them, no training, not enough internships, and the companies turn around and blame it on Gen Y.

 

[waggy]

1) they say this about every generation. You can find idiots with each.

2) as others said employers are just as bad.

 

[nehalem256]

This mentality reminds me of WoW trade chat. People wanting you to carry them, allowing for no one to fill a spot if you dare need anything from it. Either you're over geared or you GTFO. Disgusted me then, and still does now.

Jobs need to be designed to clearly have a senior and a junior employee. The latter learning from the former. Employers that violate this principle are taking short cuts and when it is violated in mass they will severely damage the labor market.

Don't need central planning to solve this, but by god it'd be nice to have some intelligent planning.

What you need is company loyalty to employees. If you plan to keep an employee long-term then investing in them makes sense.

I would say that companies also need employee loyalty. But I think the original problem is caused by companies treating employees as "disposable" and people acting accordingly.

 

[Zstream]

....But I think the original problem is caused by companies treating employees as "disposable" and people acting accordingly.

Yep, so many times I have overheard managers stating "you can always be replaced". Now, it generally comes off as a joke but how the heck do they expect you to work in that environment.

The reality is that many employers refuse to invest in an employee. Sometimes they are cheap, other times they view "keeping the lights on" enough and want to keep the money/savings in their pocket. I've seen cases were they hire someone who is excellent at a job and expect them to be the go-to individual when an issue occurs.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

The blame lies with employers. There is no doubt about this issue. They trickle down these ideas that somehow Americans are getting dumber and lazier with each generation whilst the baby boomers, most of whom can barely operate a computer, are running these businesses like a fantasy baseball team.

It's a fucking joke and, honestly, a crime against the American people.

 

[HumblePie]

Yet isn't the recent outcry about employers and internships? About how many employers are screwing over people with non paid internship jobs? They basically make people into slave labor and don't teach them anything just to have someone with a degree do a menial job all the while making that person think they are going to get somewhere eventually. Usually they don't.

However, there is quite a few people out there that think they belong where they certainly do not.

 

[Juddog]

I've heard this same type of story repeated over and over for 20 years now.

What it boils down to is that companies used to be willing to take a candidate and groom them into a position, nowadays they expect the new recruit to have all of the skills right off the bat, and whine & complain when they don't have a huge amount of skills and be willing to work for lower pay.

Not to mention that retirement nowadays is almost unheard of.

 

[SheHateMe]

They have nothing but themselves to blame partly. When you only take people with 4.0 GPA's and in 7 clubs as interns you get a certain type of person, a book smart one with zero common sense.

But....if you graduated with a 4.0 and were in 7 clubs, that means they're supposed to hire you on the spot....because someone with only a 3.5 and in 2 clubs but has extensive job history didn't try hard enough in school....


Its all about the grades man.....don't show me your resume unless you tell me your GPA first.

 

[hal2kilo]

What you need is company loyalty to employees. If you plan to keep an employee long-term then investing in them makes sense.

I would say that companies also need employee loyalty. But I think the original problem is caused by companies treating employees as "disposable" and people acting accordingly.

You're just a number on a spreadsheet. When your numbers don't work out you are gone. Loyalty? What an ancient and arcane concept in this brave new world.

Retirement can't come soon enough.

Maybe, if we get over this work till we drop mentality we have in this country, there will be room for the younger generation to find a job.

 

[lagokc]

But....if you graduated with a 4.0 and were in 7 clubs, that means they're supposed to hire you on the spot....because someone with only a 3.5 and in 2 clubs but has extensive job history didn't try hard enough in school....


Its all about the grades man.....don't show me your resume unless you tell me your GPA first.

Wow I remember being told that's how things work when I was a kid in school as well. Turns out I don't think I've ever been to an interview where I was asked my GPA. Interviewers seem to care about what skills you have, what you've accomplished for previous employers, and what you can do to make their life easier.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Some fields (I.e software engineering) you may not have a choice. Senior software engineers are very hard to come by, most companies have no choice but to hire junior engineers and groom them.

Also, in what part of the country do senior engineers make $90k? That's pretty much entry level here on west coast.

That is the preferred rate East of CA and west of DC

 

[nephilim2k]

I was taken on as entry level support in my job for a financial software company, on a 4 week contract, to see how well I do. This was in February. 17 weeks later, I am still here, I am now a support analyst, basically a midway point between those answering phones, the programmers and the tech team (those that deal with the server installs). I am effectively the liaison position, and it was created for me. If the company like you and see potential, they'll keep you.

Granted I do not know the software in and out, but I have bugfixed code, resolved hardware related issues and closed calls raised on the system. If you know your stuff, or have confidence and a willingness to learn, they will value you.

 

[OverVolt]

Wow I remember being told that's how things work when I was a kid in school as well. Turns out I don't think I've ever been to an interview where I was asked my GPA. Interviewers seem to care about what skills you have, what you've accomplished for previous employers, and what you can do to make their life easier.

You were in the interview in the first place

 

[Spungo]

there's also the issue of so-called "soft" job skills such as critical thinking and sophisticated problem-solving. Only 16% of the 18- to 34-year-olds surveyed see such skills as necessary for career advancement.

Those 16% are correct. Lots of bosses have no clue what is going on. They have no critical thinking skills at all but they still became managers somehow.

 

[gevorg]

what employers really want is more H1B2 cheap labor

 

[ciba]

Two things:

1) The only time an employer ever asked about my GPA was to ensure I got a C or better for tuition reimbursement.

2) Businesses have been spoiled by the recession with the availability of exceptionally talented people relative to their postings. Now that the market is starting to correct, they're complaining that candidates only meet 7 of the 10 criteria they are looking for in a job, when five years ago the criteria numbered 6.