Study Says Our Generation Isn’t Ready for the Real World

June 1, 2010 12:00 pm     Posted in Reality  Mel - Miami University (OH) g+ page

Somehow, the girl who always comes stumbling into your 9 a.m. with uncombed hair and smelling of vodka from the night before turns out to be the only one in the class with an A. Other times, the guy who always cuts class or, if he actually manages to show up, winds up falling asleep is the only one in the class who actually managed to get an internship this summer. Basically, in a nutshell, looks may be quite deceiving.


By Mel

And that is exactly my opinion about this new study by York University that says college grads are unprepared for the workplace. The study names a bunch of qualities and characteristics our generation is supposedly lacking, which might leave us all screwed when it comes to our futures. However, I think researchers are just looking at everything the wrong way.

Study Says: We fail to communicate and listen respectfully
Uh, do researchers have any idea of our obsession with Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin? Is this not considered communication? With my friends constantly updating their Facebook statuses letting me in on every detail of their lives, I think it’s safe to say we know how to communicate. If anything, we know how to do so more effectively (there’s nothing clearer than “liking” something) and efficiently (who needs a phone call when you can GChat from the office?). 

Study Says: We aren’t motivated to a finish a task
If there’s one thing we college kids know how to do, it’s complete a task. Those papers don’t write themselves at the last minute, do they? And what about all those times we pulled out that theme party costume at the last second? Or how about our ability to successfully reach intoxication night after night? Or to boot and rally? Is that not finishing what we start?

Study Says: We give little attention to appearance
This has GOT to be a joke. Apparently none of these employers have ever witnessed how long it takes a college girl to get ready to go out. All the tanning, tweezing, plucking, waxing, moisturizing, applying makeup, straightening hair, curling eyelashes etc. is nothing short of exhausting and definitely requires some serious work ethic and dedication. Sure, tube tops and mini-dresses aren’t appropriate for the workplace (well, maybe for some jobs…), but we know how to pull it together when we need to.

We may not be preparing for the real world like generations before us, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t ready to take this world by storm.

24 Comments on "Study Says Our Generation Isn’t Ready for the Real World"

  1. Johnnie says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20107:26 am 

    I'm convinced…I think you should use these on your resume.

  2. Anonymous says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20108:33 am 

    We know how to talk about ourselves. We don't know how to communicate.

  3. Meagan says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20108:41 am 

    I don't agree with you on this article one bit. Here is my reasoning:

    1. They said failure to communicate and listen respectfully. That means giving someone else the right to their opinion before bashing it. It means not giving every little detail of your day out. It means listening before speaking. Our generation is no good at this, and feels that demeaning people is far more appropriate.

    2. The study said we aren't motivated to finish a task. Yes, you can go and get drunk properly, and throw a party last minute, but what they were implying was that we don't start and finish a task in a timely manner. Too many times do we hurry to finish something instead of taking all the time we are given from the get-go. It has nothing to do with being impromptu; it has everything to do with respecting the time we have to complete a task.

    3. Saying we don't care about appearance is pretty on target for most undergrads. We throw on sweats and a tee shirt and head to class with messy hair. Back in the day, even back in the 80s, people actually tried to look together to go out. That means non-ripped jeans, a clean shirt, and hair that looks like some time was spent on it, instead of rolling out of bed.

    I'm sorry, but I think you missed the point of the study.

  4. Lauren - University says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20108:46 am 

    I'm sorry, Meagan, but I think you missed the sarcasm?

  5. Kyrstin says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20109:17 am 

    I actually go to York University, and this is unforunately true of about 90% of my class.

  6. Dani says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 201011:42 am 

    I 'Like' Lauren's comment.

  7. criolle johnny says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20102:14 pm 

    BLAME YOUR SCHOOLS! Yes that was all caps because I AM shouting.

    If you were an employer, would you want a prospective employee who had habits of:

    1. Showing up late.

    2. Turning in late work.

    3. Disrespect for supervisors.

    4. Making excuses.

    5. Complaining.

    6. Talking while instructions were given (on a cell phone).

    7. Inappropriate dress.

    These are the habits we permit or even encourage (as self-expression) in our schools.

    When our students arrive in the work force, they are astounded that their attitudes and habits are unacceptable in the work place.

    BLAME YOUR SCHOOLS! They are NOT preparing you for the work force. You are paying them large amounts of money in the expectation that you will recoup that investment in yourself.

    Your schools are not doing what you pay them to do.

    Complain … loudly.

  8. Meagan says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20103:59 pm 

    Well, if that article was being sarcastic, then that's just another problem with our generation. What ever happened to being serious every once in a while? Is that really too much to ask? Sarcasm is nice at times, but come on, if you are going to comment on a study done by a university, why not put in some real thought instead of going, "Oh, look at me, I can be sarcastic and cookie-cutter, just like everyone else!"

    I'm sorry, but this article fails at being even remotely intelligent. And Lauren, you are SO clever. I wish I was as witty as you. :)

  9. RIKO says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20105:17 pm 

    *sigh again with this

    Older generations have always looked down on the newer generations, saying they are not 'prepared for the real world' and stuff like that, when it's not really that true. We are just as prepared now as people were 20 years ago, it seems like those who grow old soon forget what it's like to be in college!

  10. Syd says:
    Tue, 1st Jun 20109:02 pm 

    @RIKO: I agree. I can tell you, my parents weren't doing a damn thing different 30 years ago, nor were my grandparents doing anything different 60 years ago. The last century or so has been different that previous times, but the two things that DIDN'T change: the ability for 'adults' to insist that the newest generation is the worst ever and will never amount to anything because they fail JUST SO MUCH, and the ability for that generation, SHOCKINGLY, to become adults once adolescence is over. You know how my parents, after their youth years were over, were able to get steady jobs, have a kid and a successful marriage, and live relatively normal, socially acceptable (kind of) lives? It's not like that won't happen just because I act like I'm 19 WHEN I'm 19.

    @Megan: You still allow the point to fly over your head at speeds so rapid, I doubt you have any hair left, and the sonic boom likely affected your hearing.

  11. Angeline says:
    Wed, 2nd Jun 201012:31 am 

    Humans are and have always been the same. I know extremely lazy people at uni. I also know very diligent and conscientious people who always look their best. You don't need a study to tell you college grads dress shabbily or college grads are great workers.

    I personally believe that if you don't get a job or get an A, no one else is to blame except for yourself and you're not trying hard enough.

  12. K says:
    Wed, 2nd Jun 20102:54 am 

    It's true, our generation isn't ready for the real world. They're too self-absorbed and irresponsible in general.

  13. Stacie says:
    Wed, 2nd Jun 20105:08 am 

    Lauren, Dani, and Syd, I think your attitude towards Meagan is what the research was referring to when it said we fail to 'listen respectfully'

  14. Hannah says:
    Wed, 2nd Jun 20107:42 am 

    I think the problem with our generation is a lack of solid priorities. We have all the skills needed to succeed (I would argue even more than our predecessors had at our age, in some areas), but we don't always utilize them… unless it's something super important to us, like a party. Leading right back to the lack of priorities.

    We have a lot going for us though… like multitasking, multimedia skills, and passion. Lemondrop did an article about the strengths and weaknesses of all the different generations in the work place a few weeks ago.

    We could probably work on the communicating RESPECTFULLY though. A definite downside to growing up in the age of people like Perez Hilton and other bloggers. We are conditioned to think it's ok to tear people down all the time.

  15. Johnnie says:
    Wed, 2nd Jun 201010:31 am 

    @Syd; When my grandpa was 19 he was driving a tank in WW2. When I was 19 I was binge drinking in a fraternity.

  16. RIKO says:
    Wed, 2nd Jun 20101:55 pm 

    @ Johnnie

    No offense but that is just one example, we can't use anecdotal evidence and extrapolate to an entire population. Even today there are plenty of people at 19 who have jobs, have started families, businesses, have gone to war, etc.

    Sometimes i get tired when older people try to pigeonhole our generation as this selfish generation who only cares about themselves. In reality, while the generation before us entered a fairly strong workforce, we won't be. I'm not pointing fingers, but do I blame an entire generation of people for the wasteful spending and lack of concern for the environment even up to this day? No.

  17. Johnnie says:
    Thu, 3rd Jun 20106:54 am 

    @RIKO then do a study and get back to me…oh wait…

  18. Sydney says:
    Fri, 4th Jun 201011:03 am 

    How about everyone is equally screwed and there's no hope? :)

  19. Adity says:
    Sat, 5th Jun 201010:18 pm 

    The study is completely true. But I do get the sarcasm. But maybe your response is going to encourage the people who actually do theses things. They dont need defending.

  20. Jessica says:
    Tue, 8th Jun 20106:16 pm 

    Meagan…lighten up. Humor is founded on intelligent thought. This is college candy not CNN or FOX so sarcasm and humor is what readers look for.

    p.s. sucking up doesn't make anyone look very intelligent.

  21. Syd says:
    Tue, 8th Jun 20109:17 pm 

    @Johnnie: When your grandfather was 19, he HAD to be driving a tank in WW2. There are many, many 19 year olds over in Iraq and Afghanistan right now. Also, in the 1940s, life expectancy was lower than it is now. Your grandfather expected to live to maybe age 60. You will likely live to age 80, if not significantly older (medical science marches on, though apparently everyone feels the need to ignore the fact that the same people drinking in frat houses on Saturday night are in class on Tuesday afternoon) thanks to the HORRIBLE medical students who DARE to be in college and relax on weekends at the ripe old age of 19 or 20. Just give them a memo now that they're worthless, and they can spare the future of medical science when it comes to you. Comparing our lives to generations when they HAD to do things like that is ridiculous. Unless you are going to tell me that I am destined to be an old spinster because my 20th birthday is fast approaching and I'm not yet married, and I should have been pushing out babies five years ago, like my great grandma was?

    @Stacie: Meagan was being disrespectful, rude, and obtuse. I'm not going to pat her on the head and give her a milk bone because she was 'clever' enough to fly into a rage and call everyone an idiot because an internet blog has a sarcastic tone. If you want to go on about respect, please, be consistent.

  22. Attis says:
    Mon, 10th Jun 20133:50 pm 

    Agreed completely.

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