AMHERST, MA (WGGB/WSHM) -- Hiring managers say Gen Z is bringing fresh ideas to the workplace but not always the basics of interview etiquette. Some surveys show young candidates struggle with basic eye contact and even how they dress.

Generation Z is flooding the job market and makes up nearly half of some newsrooms, but managers say an etiquette gap is showing up in interviews.

According to Resume Builder, 57 percent of hiring managers say Gen Z candidates struggle with eye contact and dress inappropriately in interviews.

The problem extends beyond in-person meetings. Resume Builder also reports that 13 percent of managers said candidates refused to turn their cameras on during virtual interviews.

“They have to kind of come online, understand how to put their camera on, make eye contact, respond to the interviewer, and that’s a really great way for them just to kind of get a sense of like, even if you are virtual, those etiquette practices and best professionalism standards still matter,” said Lauren Abad, associate director of career development at UMass Amherst.

Abad spends her days teaching and training these skills at UMass Amherst. She said programs, including microinternships, are opening the door to real-world practice for Gen Z workers.

“The soft skills really matter,” Abad explained. “We hear from employers that they can train students on the different technologies, but what is really important is to kind of put yourself in situations of when you’re working with people with different perspectives, or you’re asking questions to kind of learn from them, or you’re showing your curiosity.”

The Isenberg School of Management is pushing for students to invest their time in these microinternships. The short, virtual projects with real employers typically total 20 to 40 hours. Abad noted the most important part is putting yourself out there before you enter the job market.

“Make sure that throughout your education that you’re seeking out different experiences, right? So, you are getting a sense of what it means to kind of show up and participate in a meeting and communicate,” Abad added.

Abad said the focus is on building the skills that are not always written on a resume: communication, collaboration and time management.

Regardless of which generation you are in, if you are walking into an interview soon, Abad said do not overthink it. Just show up ready to learn and be clear about what you can do.