Lateness is a common professional behavior problems with college students. In high school, there were immediate penalties for lateness, such as a grade reduction or detention. In college, students often feel the freedom of having no such penalties -- they could come and go to class as they please. Of course, there was no guarantee they would master the material if they constantly missed the beginning of class, but for some students, that was not an issue. Now, in the working world, the consequences for lateness are small (a few dollars of docked pay) and the student does not understand that arriving on time affects more than him or her -- the well-being of other employees is involved. Constant lateness can, however, over time lead to termination.
Wearing appropriate clothing is also an issue for the working college student. In high school and college, attire may have been worn to send a message of personal expression. In the professional world, however, the right clothes often say a great deal about the student's dedication or commitment to the job. Sexy attire, for instance, can be seen as an distraction. A slovenly appearance, on the other hand, indicates that the employee will spend about as much time on a work task as he does on personal hygiene.
Calling out sick is another issue common to college students. Unfortunately, many of them do not understand that their workplace requires a minimum number of employees in order to function adequately. They will often call out when they are not, in fact, ill.
Finally, quitting a job without giving notice is a problem with college students that irks many employers. The standard time to give notice is one week for part-time employment and two weeks for full-time employment. Unfortunately, many students quit on the spur of the moment, leaving their bosses and positions at a loss.