Human resource managers and employment experts agree there are several common mistakes made unknowingly by young professionals.
There are issues you can target to the colleges and universities: horrible writing skills, spelling and a flippancy regarding neatness and presentation, says Diane Durkin, president of Loyalty Factor, a consulting and employee training firm in Portsmouth. But, I see some come in with a sense of entitlement and no perspective regarding the line of command.
James Reidy, an experienced labor and employment law attorney with Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green in Manchester, agrees. This generation has grown up with a different mode of communication: Email, texting, Tweeting and Facebook. It does not translate smoothly to the business world at times, Reidy says. And there are levels of formality for different business situations. It most definitely creates challenges for the young professional and their employer.
So what are the most common mistakes made by young professionals? That's the question we asked human resource managers, trainers and employment attorneys.
1. Poor Communication Skills
Some young professionals lack proper verbal, writing and presentation skills, which affects how they and their companies are perceived. Poor writing can make or break an employee's chances for advancement. And it's not just a perception issue.
Employers complain they are spending significant time correcting errors in proposals before they can be sent to clients.
Many young professionals also appear headstrong or show disregard for others. This includes:
Believing they know everything and have nothing to learn.
Speaking in a manner that is perceived as being degrading or disrespectful.
Using casual, personal language face-to-face and in emails or other communications. Nobody should be calling anyone Dude' in the work place, Reidy says.
Manager Solutions:
Establish guidance on the appropriate level of directness with a fellow employee.
Provide an outline of writing and presentation standards and expectations.
Provide guidance on emails, texts, letters and presentations. Encourage face-to-face communication instead of social media, gossip, texting and email.
2. Impatience and Entitlement
One of the positive things about today's young professional, according to Durkin, is their brains are often used to multi-tasking at a high rate of speed. For years they have been honing their skills handling phone calls, texts, surfing the Web and holding a conversation all at once.
But in the workplace this can come off as unfocused and impatient. For instance:
Young professionals sometimes talk over others as if the pace is not up to their speed.
They don't realize experienced employees have earned their larger salary.
They may ask for an unreasonable starting salaries and feel entitled to it-and to the corner office.
Manager Solutions:
Outline early plans and goals for advancement.
Have senior employees serve as mentors, sharing stories of climbing the company ladder.
Provide some flexibility, but avoid too many exceptions to standards to avoid rendering them useless.
Respond promptly, and in an appropriate fashion, to discontentment or unhappiness with advancement.
3. Distracted by Cells and Social Media
New college graduates bring knowledge of social networking and tech devices to the workplace, which can be positive and negative, says Andrea Johnstone, a Manchester labor and employment attorney and a shareholder at Bernstein Shur in Manchester. Common complaints include cruising Facebook or Twitter and personal texts during the workday, including at meetings.
Technology has outpaced many of us in the workplace, but in sales, having these skills is vital to success for the employee and the company, Johnstone says. But, it is a balance and when it comes to meetings, managers have to set the expectations up front.
Manager Solutions:
Announce at meetings that electronic devices must be off except for breaks.
Set a policy about when and where it is appropriate to take a cell phone call or send text messages.
Detail how much personal cell use is allowed during work hours.
4. Dressing Inappropriately
Young professionals sometimes have a more casual idea of what's professional. Common issues, according to Hillary A. Halleck, resource manager for Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice in New London, include showing too much skin, or clothes that are worn, wrinkled, too tight or see-through. Other issues include:
Improper belief that business casual means cargo shorts and flip flops, and not realizing that appearance is a reflection on the company and its values.
Manager Solutions:
Realize that professional dress has evolved over the years. Examine the dress code to see if it helps attract and retain employees and clients.
Set the dress code and coach the employee to see themselves through the clients' eyes. What image are they sending?
5. Lack of Business Etiquette
Although many businesses have become more relaxed in their dress and atmosphere, there are some rules that should always be followed, says Halleck. Young professionals must remember basic politeness and manners go a long way. Common etiquette breaches include:
Sharing too much personal information and use of inappropriate slang.
Bad table manners and too much alcohol consumption at business functions.
Taking clients out to inappropriate establishments and expensing it.
Manager Solutions:
Make clear the organization's expectations and what is proper etiquette.
Develop from the outset an understanding of hierarchy, conduct expectations, and rules of the organization and of social and business engagement.
6. Inappropriate Posts
Reidy says that many young professionals forget that what they post on social networks like Facebook is a reflection on the company they work for.
Some things, like company party pictures and comments that disparage the organization should not be posted, he says. They should be told that emails are not really private and even Tweets have a funny way of surfacing and can impact your career.
What Makes Them Tick
Good, experienced managers educate themselves on what makes this new generation of employees tick, says Diane Durkin of Loyalty Factor. Durkin says the key to workplace success is setting guidelines from day one and knowing what motivates them to succeed. So...
Educate them on the product and their role in the company.
Give them a range of projects and space to be creative.
Provide a fun, teamwork-centered environment.
Provide incentives, goals and daily praise.
Offer training and growth opportunities.
Don't micro-manage, but check in regarding progress and deadlines.
Keep in mind they don't tolerate or respect poor leadership.
Remember they will go above you if they think it's necessary.
Current Issue - May 2024