Today's CEOs + Tomorrow's GEN Z Recruits

I’ve just returned from an assignment where I happened to be working alongside several Gen Z/millennial-cusp bright young things. We got onto the subject of their hopes and dreams for the future, and they were very forthcoming about what they’re looking for in a boss.?

When I repeated what they told me, to a few of my CEO contacts, there was an uncomfortable silence.?

“What do you mean they look at MY Twitter feed and LinkedIn profile, to see what if I’m a decent sort, before deciding whether to accept a job offer?” said one, frowning.?

“They’re JUDGING me?” spluttered another, genuinely horrified.?

Yes, I said. But in a good way.?

Then I passed on what one of the young things I worked with - let’s call her Holly (no, it’s not her real name - she's got a really great job and doesn’t want to lose it) - told me.?

“I want to know I’m working for someone I admire,” Holly explained. “Someone who is genuine, honest, and cares about their staffers. I do a great deal of background research on companies and management. Not just places I want to work, but brands I buy from too. I look at Glassdoor, not Twitter so much, but definitely LinkedIn. I want to know about a CEO’s journey, learn how they got where they are today, and understand their values.”

Holly doesn’t stop at desk research, online, she’ll go to a place of business and look around, see how the staff are treated, what the vibe is like - is everyone happy, open, able to share their ideas?

“Because if the boss isn’t open to new ideas, I won’t be able to make a difference there,” Holly pointed out.?

Several of the BYT (bright young things) I worked with recently are passionate about lifelong learning - and had taken Bob Iger’s Masterclass. When I asked why, there were several reasons. Some wanted to hone their management skills and it was during the pandemic, there wasn’t a lot else to do but improve their minds. Others said they’d grown up with Disney and were curious to see if it really was run by good people, with meaningful values, plus they thought he’d have something useful to say.?

When I asked if they’d completed the course they looked surprised. Of course! This is a very serious generation and they have great follow-through.?

Gen Z, Explained

It was only later, while reading Gen Z, Explained (University of Chicago, Nov 2021), that I found out they might not have watched Iger’s Masterclass in real-time, but speeded-up, with the subtitles/captions on, narrowing in on key points and avoiding any filler exposition.?

This was a fascinating fact, and one of many in this excellent book, written by four academics - Stanford’s Dr. Roberta Katz (anthropologist), Oxford’s Dr. Sarah Ogilvie (linguist) and Dr. Jane Shaw (historian), with Dr. Linda Woodhead, a sociologist at Lancaster University.

Another thing I learned in Gen Z, Explained is that this cohort have been taught to collaborate or, more specifically, “collab” on everything from middle school onwards. Teamwork is key. Individual achievement isn’t the goal. Which explains the success of Greta Thunberg as she’s all about highly networked activism.?

Gen Z Keywords 4 Work

Another BYT, Rebeka (no, not her real name, and possibly inspired by Rebeka Parrilla from Netflix’s Elite) is, like many of her generation, pragmatic, seeing the effects of the 2008 global financial fallout and wary of us entering into a recession.?

“I don’t do a lot of research,” admitted Rebeka, “But I should. But when I got laid off from a job - through no fault of my own - the company was going under, I had to find something really quick because I was desperate. But what I look for in a boss is someone who is genuine, I can tell when someone is putting on a front.”

Again, when I relayed this to my CEO contemporaries they were shocked. Mostly that this generation knows its worth, and doesn’t want to waste their time working for someone who isn’t genuine, or empathetic (these words come up time and time again).?

While she didn’t have time to do much research last time, Rebeka says she’s started looking at the recommendations given to CEOs on LinkedIn and does a cursory glance at Glassdoor for the “real deal” truth on a company’s culture.?

Talking of Glassdoor, their The Next Generation of Talent: Where Gen Z Wants to Work report is a good source of keyword data-led insights. Across Gen Z reviews, the words “work environment”, “flexible hours” and “good pay” were most commonly used as “pros” in their current work situations, alongside “free food”, “company discount” and “easy work”.?

Curious about the “cons”? Here you go: “long hours” and “low pay” are the two things Gen Z wants to avoid. Which, when you think about it, is refreshing honesty when compared to the “hustle” generation above them.??

Gen X Perspective

In my day (Gen X-era) it didn’t occur to us to question whether the Boss was a genuine sort, or had any enlightened views about the planet and its people.?

On my first (real) job, on a national newspaper (The Independent, back in its broadsheet glory days, off Fleet Street) I was answering the phones in the editorial/circulation department and probably not paying attention, in all honesty. During a call, I suddenly glanced down at the desk phone which had an LCD display. To my horror it was (Sir) Andreas Whittam Smith (CBE) the Editor-in-Chief. I fumbled with the confusing old-school switchboard display and managed to terminate the call before the section chief could pick up.?

When shouted at, I shrugged and made a concerted effort to avoid any administrative tasks so I could get on with my long-hoped-for writing career. That’s what we did back then. And it worked.?

CEOs Cannot Remain Silent?

However, if that happened today, a Gen Z-er would probably engage the boss in a conversation, offer a constructive criticism of today’s Op-Ed and ask when they’d be dealing with climate change, gender equity, LGBTQIA+ issues, disability advocacy or the California Legislature’s report on Reparations.?

This generation has been brought up to value their own opinions and see themselves as equal in society to others. Your elders know better is a trope they either find ridiculous, outmoded, or, quite frankly, erroneous.?

Which is why it’s crucial that today’s CEOs engage with the world through (professionally ghostwritten - but I would say that ;) thought leadership pieces, and a considered public persona. Because Gen Z is watching and judging (in a good way).?

#JustSaying.