Anyone else seeing an issue with new hires in the past 5 or so years?

Challenges in Hiring: A Recent Perspective

In recent years, hiring practices, especially for new talent, have become increasingly concerning. It appears that many organizations are experiencing difficulties when onboarding fresh employees—issues that typically arise months after the hiring process concludes.

Over the past five years, my experience has led me to observe a troubling trend: candidates often excel in interviews, showcasing enthusiasm and convincing recruiters with their polished resumes. Yet, once they step into the workplace, their performance frequently fails to match expectations. We have a multitude of experienced professionals seeking opportunities, yet we seem to gravitate toward candidates who list platforms like TryHackMe as part of their qualifications, despite having only engaged in basic labs without practical application.

It’s essential to recognize that being new to the field isn’t inherently problematic; we all began our careers somewhere. However, an essential attribute for success in any role is a genuine desire to learn and grow. Unfortunately, far too often, I have witnessed new hires who, despite their claims of eagerness, exhibit a lack of effort. As a result, the burden falls on the rest of the team to manage the gaps created by their underperformance. Moreover, when they do attempt to contribute, it frequently leads to needing to rectify errors they have made, consuming valuable time and resources.

Interestingly, even those who present themselves as seasoned professionals often seem to lack a solid grasp of fundamental concepts related to their positions. This situation feels akin to working alongside individuals freshly graduated from academic programs, leading to further frustration and confusion among seasoned team members. Is this a shared experience? It certainly feels isolating.

Clarifications on the Hiring Dilemma

After reflecting on the reactions to this issue, it’s clear I need to provide further context:

1. Role in Hiring: I am not involved in the hiring decisions and often wish I could contribute to this process, as it might alleviate some of the challenges I currently face.

2. Understanding Experience: My previous comment regarding TryHackMe may have been misleading. My point was to highlight the misperception among recruiters that participation in such platforms constitutes legitimate work experience rather than simply some basic exercises.

3. Willingness to Learn: I wouldn’t raise these concerns if I observed a genuine willingness to develop among new hires. Unfortunately, this eagerness seems to be lacking.

4. Assessing Effort: Yes, it is evident when individuals are not engaged in their roles or seeking to enhance their skills