Current Issue: More Surprises for the New Hire College Graduate

In Office Space, the zany comedy about work place 
culture and rebellion, Peter, the very twenty-something 
main character asks the next cubicle occupant, Milton, 
the office nebbish, to turn down his radio.  “I was told I 
could keep it on at a low volume,” stumbles Milton in flat 
rejection of common courtesy.  Peter just rolls his eyes 
and glances at the clock.  It’s only 9:15 am.

Indeed, to many college graduates, the culture of work 
is filled with many such unpleasant surprises.  Our 
recent survey of new hire graduates surfaced a number 
of frequently mentioned revelations.

For example, former students said they didn’t realize 
how much attention—and money—was devoted to 
dressing professionally and “looking good.”  The idea of 
working in a cubicle affected several respondents.  
“Environmentally disappointing,” was how some in this 
environmentally-sensitive group described their space.  
They also reported bosses weren’t as understanding as 
professors, and co-workers weren’t as friendly as 
classmates.  In fact, one person reported people at his 
job weren’t eager to help new people out.  The need to 
learn fast and learn a lot was part of the package, and it 
was expected that they would take the initiative to learn.  
“There’s no end at work.  When you achieve a result, 
you are given more work.  At least in school it ends,” 
was one comment.  Indeed, the engine never stops. No 
one was providing a lecture for them to capture 
knowledge; for many, it was a do-it-yourself learning 
experience.  The need to work in teams—effectively 
communicating with colleagues—required a new set of 
responses far different from school.  Of course, 
diplomatically listening to and playing office politics and 
mastering red tape were challenges of their new world.

Even more disappointing, many respondents said that 
work was “essentially meaningless,” boring, not 
challenging and not using any of the knowledge gained 
through years of study.  “Every day is pretty much the 
same.”

Finally, new workers found that the amount of income 
they received for their labor was an unpleasant 
disappointment.  After taxes, retirement plans, dues and 
health insurance, take home pay was reported as much 
less than expected.  Bills, living expenses and payments 
on student loans made that amount even smaller.  One 
person put it this way:  “I make significantly less than I 
thought I would with my degree.”  With loan payments 
looming, you can understand how that obligation makes 
these new workers look at work in a bitter-sweet way.  
Yes, there is a job that brings in a salary, but they are 
not making that much when all is said and done, and the 
background pressure is always there to make sure they 
don’t lose their paycheck because of student loans.

Of course, new workers also have a sense of freedom 
from papers, tests, homework and “no more school.”  
But you wonder what the amplified pressures of working, 
learning how to survive in a somewhat alien—and 
sometimes unfulfilling—work culture and living on much 
less than expected can do to even the most confident 
new worker.

It would be useful if someone told them that finding 
friends at work makes a huge difference in how 
engaged they feel at work.  Or, an avuncular manager 
might offer advice on finances, giving them some control 
over money.  Unfortunately, that happens only by 
chance. Why don’t we build it in to our onboarding 
processes?

Yes, people adjust over time, but it appears that 
expectations are frequently adjusted downwards.

And at what price?  Surely, there must be a better way 
to welcome the new folks aboard.  

College Graduates: How Do You Like The Real World Of Work?

At the end of the wonderful French movie, Auberge Espanole, a young college graduate is shown showing up for work in a tomb-like, corporate glass and steel office. His new boss awkwardly crushes him with an embrace in his stiff, new suit, the drab office workers enthusiastically describe what the different color folders on his desk mean and then exchange opinions about the best setting for the air conditioner. Two seems to be the consensus.When the workers look up from adjusting the thermostat, the new employee is gone. The next scene shows him frantically running away.

New college graduates are coming into a world of work that is purposeful, efficient and frequently relentless. It's surprising that more of them don't leave after their first morning. The transition to adult employment is abrupt and, for many, a dismal and permanent change to their lives. Doesn't it make sense for employers to look at the impact this transition has on graduates? It would be helpful to know what those thermostat moments are, making it easier to soften the landing.In our study of recent college graduates, we asked these new workers to identify the biggest surprises and disappointments they experienced when they settled into their cubicles. What they said was interesting, if not provocative.Probably the biggest surprise about going to work was how hard life had suddenly become. To many, just getting a job had been a long and difficult process. Some reported taking work in a field they didn't want and didn't plan to stay in for the rest of my days. When graduates did get a job, there was little free time; people reported they were not used to being anywhere for eight hours at a time and actually heads down working for the whole time. One person found it hard to get his mind around the idea that he had to be at work no matter what. Someone was expecting me to be somewhere at a certain time with no flexibility and no rescheduling. That's different for me,said a new worker.Another said that the magnitude of projects and amount of work that had to be done was something he was totally unprepared for. Indeed, life had changed; new workers didn't have the energy they had at school, they didn't exercise as much, they came home pretty exhausted. No more naps during the day; no more schmoozing with friends. Work schedules found former night owls needing to get to bed early and forgoing a social life for the sake of getting up with a clear head. Work had taken time away from their lives.Of course, instead of being overwhelmed by the change, these new hires can chose a productive response. They can build exercise into their schedules, ask for help or offer their time on an interesting project and figure out how to adapt to the loss of so much free time. Action, although perhaps hard to take on during overwhelm, is hard. At the same time, it is what will make a difference in easing the transition from student to employee.And, what are we, people who have been in the organization for years doing to recognize the thermostat syndrome and help them?