The past few years have seen Gen Z enter the workforce, with the Class of 2025 being the most recent wave of young graduates to start sending out their resumes. But HR leaders have concerns about how prepared this new generation is for the job world.
A study from Resume.org states that 8 in 10 hiring managers say their recent college grads struggled in their positions. They cite difficulty managing, entitlement, and too much time on their phones as significant factors in their performance, and just 58% of companies say they’re considering hiring anyone from the class of 2025.
Still, these Gen Z workers still bring numerous skills to the table, and like all generations before them, may just need some coaching on how to be more engaged. So, what can HR Professionals do to help guide this generation into the workforce?
- Transparency During the Interview: There is a lot about a workplace that Gen Z is simply unfamiliar with, so it’s best to be as transparent as possible while interviewing them. Often, they don’t know what questions to even ask, or don’t feel confident enough to ask them right away. Talk about the company culture, the job expectations, the initiative you would like to see them take. Open the floor to certain subjects like pay, day-to-day responsibilities, benefits, and give them an opportunity to be curious with an expert.
- Peer-to-Peer Mentoring: When starting their new position, it’s incredibly beneficial to have another more tenured individual guide them in their responsibilities, but not necessarily a manager. They’re able to learn the quirks of the job and expand their horizon without the pressure of being graded by a supervisor. Your Gen Z hire can stretch both their interpersonal and task-oriented skills and perhaps teach their peers something as well.
- Actionable Onboarding: The world has been in flux since Gen Z first joined the workforce, so it’s no wonder that they’re unfamiliar with an office space and its expectations. Taking the initiative can be an issue for new hires, not because they’re not capable, but because they’re unsure what exactly is expected of them and are afraid to make a mistake. Having a longer, more thorough onboarding experience that lists actionable items they can accomplish to expand their knowledge and showcase their work ethic will let them find their voice and start acting with more confidence.
The Bottom Line
Gen Z offers innumerable skills and viewpoints that any company can find value in, but their unfamiliarity with offices and uncertainty on the boundaries of the workplace can lead to serious challenges. That’s why HR Professionals are perfectly poised to help guide these new workers into their own and create invaluable assets to the company.