If you’re looking for a phrase that sums up the Gen Z workforce – then it has to be ‘picky’.
It’s important for businesses to be aware that this next generation of employees (born mid-1990s to early 2000s), have a far different concept of the world to the rest of us.
We speak to hundreds of candidates each year and as the first truly ‘digital generation’, the Gen Z ideals and expectations are not the same as the generation before. We see that businesses need to become more switched on as to how to recruit and retain Gen Z employees or face a revolving door of having to constantly keep hiring.
At Glue Executive we have found that there are several things that Gen Z seek out, however the ones that stick out are ‘work flexibility’ and ‘development opportunities’.
Gen Z candidates are attuned to the latest technology and tools, particularly via smartphone and laptops, and so they don’t expect to be ‘chained’ to a desk or set hours in one location. They expect that they can work from any location, be it in the office or home.
They also want to see flexibility while at work. They expect work to also include play, which can be interpreted in many ways, and that it is incorporated into the working day. “What’s the culture like?” is a question we are always asked, and for Gen Z its also about mixing up the working day.
Once you have satisfied flexible working, you then must appeal to their desire for continual development or they won’t be around for long. They don’t want to come and work for you and get left behind by technology advancements. They want to make sure they are knowledgeable and relevant and never risk becoming a ‘dinosaur’. To that end, as an employer you need to have a training programme that will deliver this and ensure opportunities and time is provided. It could be a webinar, seminar, lunch and learns, training days…you name it. If you can match the drive and desire of the candidate, then the likelihood is you’ll be more successful in recruiting and retaining them.
At Glue Executive our value add is securing talent before it hits the market, and as such working with us we will present you with candidates that you won’t find active on job boards. If you’d like to discuss the local candidates we are representing in more detail, then please let me know.
Contact the Glue Executive team today to find out more.
Chris Askitis 0410 474 544.