Generation-Z is facing tough challenges in the job market. Many of this cohort could not secure internships or co-ops while the pandemic raged. In the aftermath of the virus outbreak, there was an overhang of people out of work. Rather than hire a young person without any experience and needing to train them, companies were able to select from hundreds of experienced people who were out of work and desperate for a job.
From late 2022 to now, businesses have moved toward rightsizing, efficiencies and cutting costs. These measures included laying off staff, many of whom were young adults just starting out, and enacting hiring freezes.
‘How Do I Get Experience If No One Hires Me?’
If you look at LinkedIn, Indeed and other career sites and search for “entry-level” jobs, the opportunities listed under this category call for three to five years of relevant experience. They’re faced with the predicament of, “How do I get a job that requires experience when no one will hire me to give me the experience?”
What’s Going On With Gen-Z?
Gen-Z has an extreme online presence, with social media usage reaching four or more hours a day, double the rate of all adults in the United States, according to Morning Consult Pro. They must contend with ego-bruising and mental health struggles, while comparing their inability to find the right job, feeling stuck in a temporary role in a retail store, worried over how they’re going to pack back their college tuition debt and feeling betrayed that they won’t earn enough money to get an apartment, automobile or save up for purchasing a home one day.
Are Gen-Zers Difficult To Deal With?
In an April survey by ResumeBuilder.com, 74% of managers and business leaders reported that they find Gen-Z more difficult to work with than other generations. The respondents reported that this group tends to feel entitled and demonstrate a lack of effort, motivation and productivity. Some managers reported having to fire Gen-Z employees due to these issues.
They Didn’t Ask To Be In This Dilemma
To put things into perspective, the pandemic impinged their education, forcing them into remote learning without being able to interact with their classmates in person. When a person is isolated, their interpersonal skills may suffer.
In a May 2022 survey by Mckinsey & Company, Gen-Z self-reported “remarkably high rates of mental health struggles” and 55% of 18- to 24-year-olds say they’ve received a diagnosis and/or treatment for a mental illness.
“With the Covid pandemic, opportunities disappeared for the kind of part-time employment and internships that undergraduates were once able to have to build their résumés. We finish college now with a diploma in hand, but lacking the real-world experience and credentials for which employers look,” Nathan Biller, a graduate of Colgate University, wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.
Gen-Z find themselves in an inhospitable labor market, with challenges in finding employment opportunities. There are overwhelming concerns about a lack of jobs and financial security.
Around 60% of 18-to 25-year-olds said they’re likely to switch jobs in 2023, up from 53% last year, according to Robert Half.
According to the World Economic Forum, Gen-Z will account for more than a quarter of the workforce by 2025, and they will be a force to reckon with. The young adults are well-versed in various technologies, including artificial intelligence, software and social media. Companies and their managers must learn how to train and oversee this growing cohort.
Start With Small Changes And Improvements
Gen-Z employees need to advocate for themselves. They should go into the office three to five days a week to gain practice initiating face-to-face communications and interactions with co-workers, clients and bosses. If they are experiencing any workplace challenges, they should request a meeting with their manager to discuss company programs that can help them, like online learning courses, upskilling, training and help connecting with a coach or mentor.
This group should ask for feedback and constructive criticism to help them grow and develop their careers. They can also benefit from improving their communication skills and cultivating soft skills, such as empathy, active listening and dealing with difficult situations.
Join LinkedIn
Gen-Z should start migrating to LinkedIn. The site offers online coursework, where the young adults can learn new skills, while gaining credentials and accreditations. LinkedIn provides a robust job site, company profiles, career advice and daily breaking industry news.
Gen-Zers can also network on the social media platform to find contacts who could put them in touch with job opportunities. Having grown up with social media, Gen-Z will have an advantage and can stand out in branding and marketing themselves.
Source: Forbes
