I’ve been reading on this thread for some time about STEM grads that can’t get jobs. Let me tell you about some STEM grads. I’ve hired ~15 fresh out of college graduates in the last 3 years to build out teams that I had to reconstruct. I did this because I needed energy and I couldn’t find enough competent experience. 2 teams in 3 years.
In both cases I hired 3-4 folks with 10-15 years of experience first, then I brought in about 20 fresh grads in a 1-2 day period for face to face to fill out the 12 person teams I was building. The first time I did this we had about 20 candidates. When I got the group together after the round robin interviews ~ 1/2 of the candidates went on the floor before we started. Both times I’ve done this there were 1-2 candidates who were spectacular and there was no need to debate further.
The ones who went on the floor often had decent GPAs from decent schools. However, they came in unshaven, unprofessionally dressed, unable to write, unable to communicate effectively, or even outright lied to my face. I’m sure they’ll eventually get some sort of employment - but they weren’t about to work for me.
The middle group almost always ended in three pile: yes or maybe if the yes’s won’t accept, but they’d take some work. In the yes case both times it came down to picking between two very close runners. In both cases I took who I thought would be the best team player. The first go round I talked with multiple people before making my decision, the tie-breaker was the one who spoke a second language - the role had international travel associated with it - it made the most sense to take the one with more skills. She was 3rd generation.
Now did I hire any foreigners? Out of those positions I hired one and offered a second, both during the second set. The one who didn’t take the job spoke 3 languages, had lab and experience with the regulatory agency for the industry, and was SHARP. The one I hired and accepted had a masters. I turned down one who said paperwork was in order when it wasn’t - but then that one wasn’t really fresh out of college (2-3 years).
I guess my point is that industry WILL hire US grads - if they bother to show up for the interview (which reminds me I had 3 no shows) and perform. I didn’t lecture any of them, but I did tell them in a matter-of-fact way that when they showed up without shaving, etc it told me they didn’t care. I got one sob story out of the lot - I knew it was a lie, but I took the moment to teach and told him: “If it’d been me I’d have gone to Walmart or wherever and bought a blazer before I’d show up at an interview in a t-shirt. Besides I’m hiring people to solve problems, did you even try to do that?”
I agree that there are bad players in industry - the Disney fiasco is a case in point, and I’m aware they aren’t the only ones. However, there are also a lot of cases where the local talent just isn’t trying....but when they do - they win out. K.... done with my little soap box thingy.
Interesting