Anyone who was born in the year 1995 or later will be considered part of Generation Z. There are some pretty mind-blowing facts associated with this portion of the population, with “Gen Zers” being described as resourceful individuals. You might even go as far as to say that Gen Zer’s have more of an entrepreneurial head on their shoulders when compared to Millennials. What’s more, this generation will account for 40% of all consumers by the year 2020.
As more and more Gen Zer’s seek out employment, the workplace is evolving. If you are to be a powerful leader, you must be aware of the impact this generation could have on your company. Read on to learn more about the “Z” effect on the workplace.
The Disparities Between Millennials and Generation Z
Someone who reached young adulthood around the year 2000 will be considered a Millennial, whereas the post-millennial population is younger. Over a quarter of America’s entire population consists of Gen Z and although the average person who falls into this category will have an attention span lower than 10 seconds, they tend to be good researchers, understand technology (the typical Gen Zer uses a laptop, smartphone, television, or some kind of screen on a regular basis), and are very sociable.
Juggling multiple tasks is not as easy for Gen Z as it is for Millennials, however. Exposure to apps like Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook during the stages of growing up impacts attention span. Consider the importance of this based on what your company does before choosing between Millennials and Generation Z.
Pros and Cons of Welcoming Generation Z into the Workplace
Not sure whether or not hiring younger employees is a good idea? Let’s cover the perks and pitfalls associated with hiring a Gen Z team to aid you in making recruitment decisions:
• The Pros – Being able to take in big chunks of information and assess it quickly is a skill that Gen Zer’s have picked up. Media is served on a plate for this generation of workers and therefore they can work well with technology. Candidates can be found around the globe since and according to Entrepreneur.com, Gen Zer’s are more loyal, which means that they are likely to contribute to the company for a long time. Moreover, you must make your team aware of the potential for growth within your company if you are to retain them. This generation does have an entrepreneurial mind, after all.
• The Cons – Collaborators of the pre-created, Generation Z candidates are usually more comfortable conversing over the phone, via email, or with social networking instead of in a face-to-face setting. This could pay off for a company that is hiring virtual assistants or remote workers, but it will become a big problem if you require your workforce to communicate with customers face-to-face. Despite the fact most Gen Zer’s will get stuck into a task and give it their all, lack of concentration means that the slightest distraction could throw them off.
Natives of the digital world, Generation Z have a great deal of potential and could add value to your business. Gen Zer’s are a future-proof choice because they are tech-savvy and can perform to their optimum ability when placed in the right setting. Combined with good leadership, a fun working environment, and a thorough recruitment process, it is possible to attract, retain, and build a talented team for your company.