By most accounts, Generation Z is made up of young adults who were born between 1998 and 2010. Thus, the older section of this generation is already approaching 21 years of age and preparing to enter the workforce.
There are several Gen Z traits that allow them to assimilate well with the new workplace.
1. Entrepreneur
According to the Harvard Business Review, nearly 70% of Gen Z were self-employed versus just 12% who had a traditional job, such as waiting tables. This is a stark contrast to previous generations, who took traditional jobs like cashiering to earn money when they were in their teens.
The reasons for the contrast are multifaceted, from timing conflicts to competition with older workers. However, it is also likely that Gen Z simply prefers to be self-employed rather than doing traditional jobs.
Being self-employed, like selling on e-Bay, allows for more flexible work hours and even higher income if the business is successful. Also, having good business skills makes it easier for this generation of people to earn a living even in a bad economy.
The ability to turn coveted skill sets into earning power will also come in handy for Gen Z as they enter the new workforce. Since innovation is needed for a business to be successful, Gen Zers who have experience starting their own business can help bring creative ideas to a company to accelerate its performance.
2. Tech savvy
A year ago, a group of students at Temasek Polytechnic created electronic parking coupons as part of their Final Degree Project, with the aim of saving drivers the hassle of using paper parking coupons.
It’s a fact that Generation Z is generally more tech-savvy than previous generations.
This also means they can be an asset to the new workplace, where technology is becoming an integral part of today’s businesses. Employees are now required to code, program, design, and have a deep understanding of how technologies scale.
In healthcare, hardware and mobile apps are transforming clinical care. Other industries, such as agriculture, are also becoming increasingly connected to technology, with drones and big data revolutionizing the way food is grown.
3. Concerned about personal reputation online
Unlike Millennials, Generation Z is more aware of their online reputation. This is because this generation was familiar with social networking sites from a young age.
They are also unlikely to broadcast all aspects of their lives on social media. Instead, they selectively select what they want to share and choose who they share it with.
While it’s true that Gen Z has plenty of social and digital savvy to offer future employers, they also care about face-to-face interactions and building communities.
It is also good to note that this generation is used to online shopping, where online word of mouth is very important.
Therefore, Gen Z’s ability to maintain a good online reputation, as well as surf the Internet, means that they can help enhance and protect a company’s online brand reputation.