Hiring & communicating with Gen Z? Let's talk tactics

Generation Z—people born between 1997 and 2012— currently make up 13% of the US workforce, with this number rising to 30% by 2030. This means that if we want to hire and retain them successfully, we need to meet this new cohort of hires where they already are. Traditional ways of communicating and the tools we use are ultimately going to fall short of their expectations. So, we've compiled some tips and tricks to help you navigate this often misunderstood but highly talented next-gen of talent.

Turn up the honesty and authenticity

Having grown up amid social media misinformation, political polarization and questionable internet privacy practices, Gen Z members have generally low respect for major institutions. That makes transparency critical both in hiring and ongoing management.?

Start by using the job platforms they use to make a statement about why they should work for your company. Your presence on LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, Handshake and ZipRecruiter should communicate an authentic message about your workplace culture, honestly describe your value proposition and back it up with experiences shared by your people.?

Instagram and TikTok Resumes are good places to showcase your culture through employee testimonials, and these videos can be repurposed on other recruiting platforms as well. The authenticity of employee voices is more persuasive than anything you can tell them.

During the interview process, be honest about your impressions and their likelihood of receiving an offer. Communicate clearly, quickly and honestly. If you go dark, they’ll go elsewhere.?

Invest in modern communications technology

Once a new hire is on board, show them that your company is fully engaged with the communication and collaboration tools they value. Modern platforms encompass the full range of media types and work on any device.?

High-quality video capabilities are a must. The TikTok generation communicates in short-form video, so your internal collaboration platforms should make it easy for them to create and share clips. The tools now exist for teams to easily communicate via video, and we’ve found companies that embrace video have higher engagement and satisfaction among their teams.???

Embrace and encourage flexibility

Expecting members of this generation to work five days a week in the office ties your hiring hands behind your back. The group that came of age during COVID believes that flexibility and productivity are intertwined. Evaluate performance based on results, not hours worked. Here’s a secret: People tend to work harder when they’re subject to fewer rules, if only because they don’t want to lose their valued flexibility.

Don’t leave them hanging

When it comes to hiring, silence is deadly. Gen Zers are famously impatient. They want to know where they stand in hiring, even if the news isn’t necessarily good. Communicate often and be concise. Providing frequent updates on the status of your hiring process demonstrates transparency, and you’ll get props for that. A quick video message is more personal and authentic than a copy-and-paste “thanks, we’ll be in touch” email. When courting the best candidates, get one of your C-level executives involved with a personal "here’s why we want you" video. It takes seconds to create and makes a powerful impression.

Don’t neglect diversity

Look around your office. If 95% of the people prospective employees will see are white males, then you already have a strike against you. Just 51% of Gen Z members in the U.S. identify as white, compared to 72% of Boomers. Generation Alpha, or those born since 2013, will be the first with a white minority. Make your commitment to diversity clear at the executive level, and then review all your hiring materials, including your job postings, your interview panel and everything else in the hiring process.?

Hiring and retaining Gen Z employees requires a strategic shift in approaching workplace culture, communication, and values. As they make up an increasing portion of the workforce, they’ll bring unique perspectives born of their digitally connected, socially conscious upbringing. Let’s accept that and celebrate it.