Quick Takes: Quick Takes — March 6, 2007

Hiring the ‘Only-Me’ Generation

“Narcissistic” college students represent the future workforce.

Beware the Narcissists: A new study on the attitudes of college students gives HR executives cause for alarm. Researchers say today’s collegians are more “narcissistic and self-centered” than previous generations of students. As a result, they are hostile to constructive criticism, don’t work well with others, and care more about self-promotion than helping others. Perhaps this isn’t altogether surprising for a generation addicted to iPods and MP3 players, yet the findings paint a chilling portrait of those who soon will enter the workforce—and outline the challenges facing hiring managers.

The study was conducted by five researchers from San Diego State University, University of Michigan, University of Georgia and University of South Alabama. The study was based on psychological surveys taken by more than 16,000 college students across the country during the past 25 years.

The lead author of the report, Jean Twenge, an associate professor at San Diego State University, told the Los Angeles Times that she is concerned that society has raised the self esteem of today’s students to the point where they are likely to treat others badly as they follow a me-first course in pursuit of success. Twenge is the author of the book, "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled - and More Miserable Than Ever Before," which was published last year.

The study is still awaiting publication in an academic research journal, but was made public to coincide with the release of the paperback edition of Twenge’s book and a recent student affairs workshop at the University of San Diego where Twenge discussed how the current generation of college students approaches education, according to the Times.

—Garry Kranz

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Index: Quick Takes — March 6, 2007