FloridaACE2025

Proposed by Agnie Duplis, Industry Outreach Representative at Full Sail University, and facilitated by FloridaACE's Professional Development Committee, this roundtable will explore the growing disconnect between undergraduate students' professionalism and employer expectations in today’s job market. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, hiring managers have increasingly reported a decline in early career talent’s professional behavior, citing issues such as no-call-no-shows for interviews and job start dates, poor grammar in written and verbal communication, and a lack of preparedness or follow-through. These behaviors not only hinder students' individual success but also damage employer trust in entry-level talent pipelines. The conversation will bring together educators, career services professionals, and employers to examine the root causes of these professionalism gaps, including changes in learning environments, limited work-based experiences, and shifting cultural norms, and to identify strategies for rebuilding career readiness. This discussion will seek to uncover effective interventions so institutions and employers can partner to better equip students for the professional demands of the workplace.