Gen Z- The DIY Generation

Congratulations!  You’re caught up on the trends and strategies for recruiting, hiring and retaining Millennials in your organization.  Millennials have been quite different from past generations, as they function in a collaborative mindset and not only seek, but expect, immediate feedback on their performance.  They were raised in a time of security, certainty and under the expectation that everyone around them would value their uniqueness.  Then, the Great Recession came crashing down on job opportunities and Millennials became known as the generation that lived in their parents’ basements, thought they were special, and didn’t get married like the generations before them.  And so, the divide between Baby Boomers, Gen X and Millennials began.  Luckily, culture experts, researchers and marketing groups began to study and understand Millennials and their “unique” ways, finally explaining to the world how they work and thrive in their professional lives.    

            Now, just as you had it all figured out, Gen Z is taking over the workplace. There are 60 million Gen Z’ers, finally outnumbering Millennials.  And of course, Gen Z’s perspective and career expectations are almost a complete 180 from their Millennial predecessors.  Gen Z consists of those born in 1995 or later, and are just hitting their stride in the “real world” as young professionals and entrepreneurs.  They are conscientious, hard-working, realists who are extremely mindful of their futures.  Unlike Millennials, they were brought up during the Great Recession and in a post- 9/11 world where security, certainty and being “special” were luxuries they simply did not have.  Terrorism, school shootings and lack of jobs was their reality, not a small possibility like it was for Millennials.  

            So what did Gen Z do to create their own success? Gen Z took technology one step further than Millennials, as they don’t remember a time before smartphones and social media.  Gen Z suffers from FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) and are constantly plugged into the world around them.  At first glance, this is seen as negative by many Gen Xers and Baby Boomers, but Gen Z has evolved into the multi-multi-tasker that can create a document, retain information from a podcast or webinar, follow-up on previous meetings and close a deal all simultaneously on their smartphones.  Gen Z is immediately changing the way of the workplace around us.

            While 60% of Gen Z’ers are still on a mission to change the world and impact and personal fulfillment are priorities (similar to Millennials), they are realists instead of optimists.  Recruiting and retention of Gen Z is taking a drastic turn from the Millennials you recently mastered, as competitiveness over promotions and pay move front and center.  Gen Z is out to win, while changing the world at the same time.  Gen Z wasn’t raised with team effort, emphasis on group work and participation trophies like Millennials.  They were taught the art of winning and losing from their Gen X parents. 

            Instead of the two youngest generations collaborating and sharing consistencies, they have opposing ideas on what they want out of careers and how they practice professionalism.  One of the biggest changes coming to the new workplace, Gen Z is a DIY generation.  While Millennials expected constant training, education, feedback and growth, Gen Z is using YouTube and podcasts to gather all the information they need to exceed expectations professionally.  Gen Z is taking a realistic, direct approach to work, and utilizing technology in the best and most dynamic way we’ve seen yet. 

            Gen Z is now leading the way, and are on track to be the wealthiest, most career-focused generation we’ve seen.  They’re creating and utilizing tools that even Millennials are trying to adjust to, and with their extreme FOMO and multi-tasking traits, Gen Z is capable of leaving the rest of us behind before we can upload, Snap or Tweet.