Ghosting is not just for romantic partners.
If job interviewers won’t cough up the cash convo, these fresh-faced applicants vanish faster than you can say “entry-level benefits.”
Nearly half — 44%, to be exact — of Gen Z college grads say they’ve been turned off by interviews that didn’t mention a salary range, sometimes by flat-out ghosting the recruiter, according to Monster’s 2025 State of the Graduate Report.
Why the silent treatment? It’s not about being rude — it’s about being real. For Gen Z, transparency is non-negotiable, and pay is the first thing on the table. If it’s not, they’re out.
“Since so many job descriptions provide it as a common practice, when other employers don’t, graduates may simply gloss over these job listings that don’t share it,” Vicki Salemi, a career expert at Monster, told Fortune.
Some might call it entitlement. Others call it evolution. After years of pay secrecy and office politics, Gen Z is saying what older generations only grumbled about — “Just tell me what it pays.”
Thanks to new salary transparency laws in states like New York, California and Colorado, the newest crop of workers isn’t even applying unless there’s a dollar sign attached.
But while they might have standards, many are still living rent-free at home and holding out for their dream job.
And that dream job better be value-aligned, flexible, and inclusive — or it’s a pass.
According to Monster’s report, nearly 75% of 2025 grads won’t work for a company with clashing political views.
One in three won’t say yes to a job at a company without diverse leadership. And 42% say hybrid work is a must-have.
“These incoming workers are redefining the where and when of the workplace,” Salemi told the outlet.
But not everyone’s buying into the new job market etiquette.
Kate Duchene, CEO of global professional services firm RGP, says Gen Z isn’t afraid to demand better — or leave when they don’t get it.
“They aren’t afraid to push back a little bit and then put their money where their mouth is and leave if they don’t feel heard or listened to,” Duchene noted to Fortune.
But employers are pushing back, too.
Six in ten bosses say they’ve already fired Gen Z grads for lacking what older generations might call “basic professionalism” — showing up on time or responding to emails.
Still, some are tuning into what makes Gen Z tick — and click “apply.”
“The message is clear: today’s graduates are ambitious, intentional, and values-driven,” said Monster’s chief marketing officer, Scott Blumsac, in the aforementioned report.
“Employers who adapt to these priorities by offering flexibility, purpose, and pathways to growth will be best positioned to attract and retain the next generation of top talent.”
