Why Can’t Gen-Z Get Hired?
“This issue of Gen Z having trouble finding employment can be avoided if students are taking initiative to find opportunities like internships or programs to help them build or acquire new skills that will help them in whatever career path they wish to follow.”
Generation Z has been having some trouble finding jobs due to corporate bias. However, corporations have said that newer generations have lacked essential skills needed in the workplace. Companies may see Gen Z candidates as unprofessional and demonstrating a lack of effort, motivation, productivity, and education. This leads to companies leaning on older generations because of their experience and professionalism.
Typically older generations hold different values than the ones that the newest generations hold. This can lead to a bias in the hiring process that leans toward the older generation rather than the fresh minds of Gen Z workers. Bias like this can be harmful to the entire workforce in general, because instead of moving forward we are moving backwards, and giving these opportunities to people that already have more than enough experience instead of giving these new workers a chance to gain these experiences will cause a gap of skills between the generations.
This issue is even bigger than one may think, because eventually the newer generations are going to have to retire, and the newer generations are going to have to take over, but how can we do that if we lack the experience needed? It’s not all about companies being on the bad side, and if you take some time to read about their complaints, you can see where they are coming from.
For example, in Dennis Michael’s article 16 Reasons Gen Z Can’t Land a Job and Employers Hesitate To Hire Them, he names reasons why this issue may be happening, such as Gen Z worker’s “Unrealistic Salary Expectations,” “Poor Interview Skills,” “Entitlement Mentality,” and “Lack of Adaptability.” These issues wouldn’t have been happening if schools had been preparing their students for the real world and the workforce.
In another article by Orianna Rosa Royle, Royle discusses how she sent surveys to multiple companies, and about three-quarters of the companies claimed that some or all of their recent graduate hires performed unsatisfactory in some ways. So what exactly made them claim that they didn't perform as expected? Through all the surveys received, employers explained that they had a difficult time with young people today because of their lack of motivation or initiative. They also stated they lack skills like organization, communication, consistency, and appropriate clothing.
In another article by Alice Gibbs, Gibbs addresses that one in four hiring managers believed that recent graduates were unprepared for entry-level roles, emphasizing poor work ethic, lack of professionalism, and insufficient interview skills. Alice Gibbs stated that about 1000 hiring managers found that 12 percent planned to avoid hiring recent college graduates. The managers surveyed said they would prefer older, and experienced candidates, due to the younger applicants lacking maturity and readiness for the workplace. Thirty-three percent of the hiring managers believed recent graduates lacked work ethic, while 29 percent describe them as entitled and 28 percent as unmotivated. One-quarter of respondents said graduates did not respond well to feedback, and almost as many said they were easily offended. Concerns were also raised about poor communication skills, punctuality and a need for micromanagement.
Throughout these examples all these authors have all highlighted many key details. It is the fact that students do not have enough experience to be able to work in the real world. You might be thinking how do I build my experience and although it is a very common answer it is a challenge for many students. It’s crucial for students to apply to as many internships as possible, given the amount of benefits you will receive. You might wonder, what are these benefits? Internships provide students with a clearer understanding of the field they would like to pursue or avoid, enhance your knowledge, and help you build and obtain new skills, and much more. This issue of Gen Z having trouble finding employment can be avoided if students are taking initiative to find opportunities like internships or programs to help them build or acquire new skills that will help them in whatever career path they wish to follow.
It is important to spread awareness of this issue because the current classes in CSH right now are in Gen Z. We want to make sure that the students are getting ready and building up their skills in CSH while they still can, so that they don’t fall under the stereotypes and biases that these companies are imposing on Gen Z workers. Students can participate in programs, internships, clubs, and community service to help them develop their skills, which can greatly contribute to a students work ethic that can be very beneficial for them in the future. It is crucial for students to come out of their comfort zone and apply to a variety of different opportunities so that it can hopefully help them grasp an idea of what career path they want to pursue.
Editor’s Note: In order to accompany this article, we have attached an interview with Ms. Kirschner, a PSL Coordinator at Comp Sci High.
What is your opinion on Gen-Z’s struggles to find employment?
I think there are a few factors involved - the first one is a level of unprofessionalism present in Gen Z. In my opinion, it's extremely positive and long due that Gen Z has had a generational transformation on accepting themselves for who they are, behaving in authentic manners and pushing for recognition - but in that process, Gen Z has not created professional personas, there are many behaviors that need to be adapted in different spaces, there is a crucial a requirement to commit to their responsibilities and Gen Z pushes back on that, to their detriment. Communication is the next big one - digital communication like messaging and social media is very different from traditional workplace communication styles. They have a reduced ability for face to face social interaction, and this disparity breeds unprofessionalism, misunderstandings or perceptions of inadequate communication skills. Lastly - the market is just tough right now. Between competing with AI and an unstable economic environment, this generation already has some odds stacked against them.
How do you believe you have helped avoid this problem for students in Comp Sci High?
Professional language and behavior is super important to me in PSL class. I am always repeating to students that they are creating muscle memory with their in-school and social behaviors — students constantly say that once they arrive in a professional environment they will change the way they behave, speak and act, but they won't — it requires constant practice. Whether it is their body language or using curse words, I try and create a professional environment in class that they can mirror once they are at work.
What do you think are the key factors contributing to Gen-Z's difficulties in securing employment?
Communication skills, professionalism, lack of grit and commitment, and most of all work ethic. Of course, this is not the case for all - but it is a trend I see in many of our students.
How do you think companies can better support Gen-Z workers as they transition to the workforce?
Promote continuous learning for employees, provide mentorship and mental health support and provide clear progression plans for their careers.
How do you see Gen-Z's approach to work as different from previous generations?
In addition to all the factors I mentioned previously, Gen Z values flexible work situations, remote work options, and understand that productivity is not confined to traditional office settings. Gen Z workers are also much more inclined to seek new job opportunities rather than stay a very long time at the same job. Lastly I think Gen Z has a greater desire for purposeful work - they look for roles that offer personal fulfillment and align with their values, prioritizing meaningful work over traditional metrics of success.
What advice would you give students from Comp Sci High to avoid these problems?
Practice — trust the adults and teachers that come from professional spaces and commit to putting in the effort and work to follow their instructions. Show commitment in school work as you would if you were getting a salary for it, build the muscle of professionalism long before you get to your job.