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Strong Work Ethic and Reliability Is the Competency 93% of Organizations Look For,
According to MRA’s Hot Topic Survey on Young Professionals
MILWAUKEE, WI (May 9, 2024) – Results from MRA’s latest Hot Topic Survey on Young Professionals in the Workforce show that demonstrating a strong work ethic and reliability is the top competency organizations look for when recruiting young talent.
MRA’s Hot Topic Survey also revealed that the majority of organizations find it “very difficult to somewhat difficult” to recruit young professionals and that half of the organizations say it is “very to somewhat” difficult to retain young professional employees.
“While finding and hiring top young talent does take time, effort, and commitment, employers have the opportunity to set up both themselves and their new hires for success,” said Amanda Mosteller, Director of Talent Development for MRA. “By providing solid onboarding and training and investing in the growth and development of young professionals, organizations are establishing long-term talent pipelines and actually improving retention.”
According to survey respondents, the top three programs that help ensure a smooth orientation process for young professionals are:
- Providing training and development opportunities tailored to their roles (72%)
- Providing regular feedback and coaching on performance (71%)
- Covering organizational culture, values, and policies (70%)
Regarding the training offered, organizations prefer training on the job (93%), followed by online courses or e-learning (66%), and industry conferences or trade shows (33%). These training courses are typically short, focused sessions of one to two hours.
Survey results also show that when onboarding young professionals, the most significant barrier in acclimating to the organization’s culture was the various communication styles (56%), mismatch of personal expectations and organizational reality (48%), and work-life balance (flexibility, remote work options, wellness programs, etc.) (42%).
When recruiting young professionals, the top five skills and competencies organizations look for are:
- Demonstrating strong work ethic and reliability (93%)
- Communicating openly and effectively with others (verbal and written) (91%)
- Collaborating effectively with colleagues and teams (86%)
- Displaying professionalism and integrity in all interactions (83%)
- Demonstrating problem-solving skills and resourcefulness (82%)
“Once the employee is hired, organizations can implement various strategies to help improve retention of young professionals, such as offering competitive salaries and benefits, providing professional development opportunities, and flexible work arrangements,” added Mosteller. “When you put the effort in to hire good, young talent and take the time to develop and mentor them; it’s worth it to keep them long-term—a win for both!”
For more information on MRA’s Hot Topic Surveys, visit https://www.mranet.org/hot-topic-surveys. The Young Professionals survey was conducted April 19-29, 2024, with 280 organizations participating in the 15-question survey.
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About MRA—The Management Association: Founded in 1901, MRA is a nonprofit employer association that serves 5,000 employers, covering more than 1 million employees worldwide. As the largest employer association in the nation, MRA helps its members thrive by offering comprehensive HR services, talent management, learning and development opportunities, and total rewards planning. MRA helps organizations build a successful workplace and a powerful workforce. Headquartered in Wisconsin, MRA has regional offices in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Ohio. To learn more about MRA, visit www.mranet.org.
