Dear Matt: I'm a Gen X hiring manager who is set to interview and hire a new crop of college graduates (Gen Y). There are some talented graduates entering the workforce, but others are completely unprepared. Can you provide some simple but helpful tips for today's college grads?

Matt says: Unfortunately for many college graduates, some Gen X hiring managers have grown leery of interviewing Gen Y job seekers, who are labeled by some as entitled, self-centered and lacking the everyday skills needed to succeed in life and work.

Perception is reality, though, says Kyle Krzmarzick, Director of Sales and Operations for the Minneapolis office of OtterBase (Otterbase.com), a supplemental staffing and recruiting firm.

"People who are in their late 30s to early 50s grew up in a far different world than today's college grads," he says. "Right or wrong, the perception is today's college grads grew up with helicopter parents — parents who hover over their kids, making decisions for them and deflecting any challenging experiences from their kids. Those same kids become job seekers, and many times have not developed the life skills to launch them into their 20s and 30s.

"I understand this is a generalization, but go to happy hour with a room filled with HR managers and hiring managers and you will hear multiple conversations about how 'kids these days' are lacking in drive, will power and creativity."

The good news is that college grads do have a chance to change that opinion. Taking some simple steps like these, says Krzmarzick, can go a long way toward doing just that:

• When creating a résumé, show examples of accomplishments and work you've done on your own, such as through an internship, volunteering or class project, that can translate into the real world. Prove you can do the job.

• Consider job shadowing, volunteering, or taking a very entry-level job to gain experience. This shows creativity, drive and humility. It also shows you are serious about getting a job.

• Dress for success in an interview. Men, wear a suit and tie. Women, wear a nice business suit. "Wearing a suit shows you are serious about getting the job," says Krzmarzick. "It's an act of respect for the interviewer and his/her time."

• Turn the cellphone off and put it away. Forgetting to turn it off, even though you put it away, is a major turnoff. Don't allow for any distractions.

• Don't just be on time, show up early. "I have a saying," says Krzmarzick. "You are never on time. You are either early or late. Be early."

It may seem harsh, but as Krzmarzick said, perception is reality. College grads, this is your opportunity to change it!

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