Gen Zs Truth on Seeking Opportunities in 2023

Preamble from YC's Kim Cooper

Here at Youth Culture Inc., we’re hearing more concern from the YC community about lack of opportunities for co-ops, internships and jobs—especially in the tech and computer science field. Cut-backs at tech companies and the current economy is impacting the number of opportunities for youth to gain work experience. As part of the latest YC internship program (one of the many initiatives we launched to tackle the lack of opportunities for youth), Mohit Bhabak , a high school student in Brampton, collaborated with Tanish Lad , a University student in computer science, to write this article and share their perspective on the state of opportunities for Gen Z.

Article written by Mohit Bhabak and Tanish Lad

The job market is continuously changing, and with the rise of Generation Z, a new strategy is needed for finding internships, co-ops, and jobs. Traditional job-searching methods, such as exploring job boards and posting resumes online, are now only the first step into the corporate world and job market. Our generation has grown up with tech at our fingertips, and can quickly adapt to using new technology. As a result, our approach to finding internships, co-ops, and jobs differ significantly from past generations. This article was a collaborative effort to highlight Gen Z’s perspectives on finding internships and co-op opportunities from both a high school and university lens.

A High School Perspective (Mohit)

As a high schooler, I live in an age where connecting with others may be easier, yet ironically, many of us will agree it is more difficult to connect with meaningful opportunities than ever before. It truly begs the question of how best for high-school students to begin their journeys into the professional world. For most students, particularly those looking to pursue STEM fields, experience is key. Employers want experience, and this is why the newer generation has taken to gaining said experience as early as possible. That being said, what experience is there even to gain?

Many high schoolers agree that there is not much out there for us. Previous generations seemed perfectly content working traditional retail or customer service jobs, yet there is now a growing population of youth who want real industry-related experiences. Yet, which companies want to hire high schoolers in the first place? Not many employers need or want high schoolers to develop apps for them, engineer blueprints and buildings, or create financial analyses and pitches. Despite this, students are in dire need of such experience if they wish to stand out in terms of obtaining co-ops, internships, & job experiences in their post-secondary environments. A vast majority of companies hire purely industry professionals and undergraduate students at most, with almost every job application requiring at least a candidacy for a Bachelor’s Degree. The drop-off in the percentage of students in the workforce is evidenced by statistics: CNBC reported in 2019 that only 35% of American high schoolers were in the workforce compared to the peak of 60% in 1979 (Dickler, 2019). This number has likely dropped further due to the ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a high school student looking to pursue engineering, the struggle of finding any work experiences that truly relate to the field cannot be understated. Countless hours have been spent scouring through LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job-finding sites only to see that none are accepting high schoolers. It truly does make you feel as if you are searching for a needle in a haystack. To make matters worse, on the odd occurrence that one does find an opportunity for high schoolers, it is competitive beyond belief. Due to the thousands of students looking for opportunities, and the mere handfuls of said opportunities, any applicant can be expected to come up against hundreds or even thousands of others.?

With a rise in the number of students pursuing university degrees, there inherently comes a substantial rise in the competition for experiences at top companies. Supply for these opportunities remains stagnant, whilst demand grows almost exponentially. Networking platforms such as LinkedIn; originally made for industry professionals; have become a home ground for high school students, a true testament to how early the job search needs to begin in one’s life to stay competitive. Many, myself included, find ourselves searching for experiences at any given opportunity in the hope to ensure we do not fall behind the rest of the pack in the evermore challenging race for success and the top positions. All this put together, creates a vicious cycle and environment of competitiveness pushing students to pursue experiences for just a chance of contention in an uphill battle that continues to grow steeper and steeper as the days pass.?

A University Perspective (Tanish):

The premise of finding external and internal opportunities has become the forefront of how students showcase their skills and set themselves apart in a competitive world. As a university student, such a wide and open field for opportunities can make it difficult to seek relevant experience. However, the path to success in a post-secondary position truly requires more than just simply earning high grades.

“Compared to past internships, it is visibly evident that it has become much more difficult in finding coops for students from all universities. I have seen about 10-20% drops in co-op employment rates compared to past years. There just aren’t enough jobs; there are too many people looking right now but not finding anything. It’s a really tough and scary time for everyone” said Jaimil Dalwadi , a Computer Science student at the University of Waterloo.

In 2023, employers and companies look for individuals who demonstrate potential, field-related experiences, and high-level skill requirements. In STEM-related university programs, establishing a versatile repertoire of skills can be challenging as first-year students are limited to introductory courses that only provide a basic scope into their fields. With this in mind, what is the blueprint for success as a Gen Z student in their hopes to attain success?

What undoubtedly comes into question is what an individual can do to prepare themselves for a hyper-competitive corporate world and an ever changing community. Maintaining a high GPA and involvement in field-related practices can become overwhelming. Additionally, the scope of university level courses and expectations demands a “do it yourself” mindset where learning concepts cannot be learnt strictly from lessons and lectures.? As I approached university, adapting to the differences in coursework and employment was challenging. I had to balance different workloads and navigate unfamiliar professional cultures to prepare for the corporate world. This itself can impact the mental health and well-being of students persevering to achieve success, however, it is important to recognize that becoming the best version of oneself requires a progressive and step-by-step approach.?

Being a Computer Science student, the playing field has become increasingly competitive. As this university journey begins, the simple statement continuously arises, “it’s not what you know, but who you know”. Interestingly, knowledge and networking work together seamlessly. Taking the initiative to join university clubs, hackathons, can set a platform for one to enhance their network and gauge what it takes to be in a workplace. With networking becoming an essential component of creating relationships in a digital world, platforms such as LinkedIn set the benchmark for communication. Within LinkedIn, creating your profile creates a personalized image of yourself to potential employers is the stepping stone for earning internships and co-op placements. It is beyond reasonable doubt that the outlook for opportunities as a first year student has become increasingly difficult to maneuver and it asks to challenge our determination each step of the way.

In order to set oneself apart, understanding the world of educational and developmental opportunities the internet presents is astounding. Free courses on platforms such as Coursera, Linkedin Learning, and Udemy are just a few of many resources that can be utilized to create a foundational understanding for technical skills. With computer programming and information technology becoming a universally recognized skill in STEM, free and paid certifications online can increase the likelihood of earning potential internship opportunities. Though the paradigm of pursuing professional learning experiences in university has its own unique pathway, taking the initiative to use web-based resources and available assistance is one of the best means of demonstrating a strong portfolio as a university student.

Transitioning into the Future

No matter what stage of education we may be at, the struggle to find work is greater today than ever before for Gen Z. A combination of the dilution of certain fields and jobs, increasing competitiveness amongst students, and the higher expectations and requirements of employers have coincided with a generation of people being forced to change every approach just for a shot at success. Societal pressures and the fear of failure loom above the head of every individual, yet even in an environment that at times may seem so dire, it is important to remember that your future is still in your hands. A rise in online resources, courses, and certifications, an easier ability to network, and greater accessibility than ever before; have and will allow those who really put the effort in to always succeed. Opportunities such as this internship at Youth Culture, can be leveraged for professional development, networking, and building work experience.

As times change and technology adapts, people will have to follow suit if they wish to keep up. How well the students of today will transition into the workers of tomorrow will determine the advancement and prosperity of our societies for decades to come, and whether Gen Z will be able to handle such a task is a question that only time will be able to tell.?