Gen Z is a dynamic generation and not afraid of expressing themselves. They are born and raised in a digital era, in which they benefit from exposure to many conveniences as well as a wide variety of cultures and lifestyles. That is why their way of thinking and evaluating things in life may differ from previous generations. Some of the aspects that Gen Z prioritize in their career and how they want to work include: - Diversity, equity & inclusion: According to The 2022 Career Interest Survey from NSHSS of 11,495 diverse high school and college-aged people, Gen Z talents emphasize on equity the most. Over a fifth of survey respondents (22%) agreed that racial inequalities and discrimination have influenced their career choices. Since Gen Z grew up in a digital era, in which they get access to almost everything around the world and social media also allows Gen Z to freely raise their voices on any controversial issues, especially those of social injustice topics. Therefore, equity for all is of the utmost importance to the Gen Z workforce. They prioritize organizations that treat everyone fairly, provide opportunities and training for everyone. They want the companies they work for to have teams and leaders representing a wide range of cultural, political and intellectual perspectives. - Purpose in the work they do and recognition: Based on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, people have the needs of Esteem and Self-actualization. As Gen Z is used to sharing their opinions, they have such a desire to make an impact on the community and get recognition from people around. They value the mission behind and whether their organizations contribute to any social responsibilities. It is important to them to be acknowledged for what they have done and achieved during their career. According to a Lever report, 42% of Gen Z-ers would choose to work at a company whose values they align with over one that offers a higher paycheck. “Besides working to earn a living, they also want to feel like they are enacting real change in their fields. Gen Z is an action-oriented generation and want to see how their day-to-day work manifests in the final products of the company.” - A healthy, flexible working environment: Gen Z would prefer companies that take their mental and physical health into account, not just sheer productivity. According to the American Psychological Association, Gen Z is the most stressed-out generation. Ever since the pandemic, workplaces have made a major shift to support Gen Z by offering hybrid, remote or on-site schedules. Most Gen Z-ers choose to work hybrid as it offers them a work-life balance. Working from home on days with no in-person meetings gives them a space to focus on their tasks and a chance to make time for other personal schedules. Meanwhile, on-site days come in handy when they have in-depth discussions or issues that need quick solutions. It is the time for Gen Z-ers to socialize as well, since Gen Z is fed up with staying at home for too long because of the pandemic. In addition, they put emphasis on a balance between work life and home life and set clear boundaries for this. Once they log off for the day or at weekends, they are not willing to reply to emails or check any work-related messages unless something urgent pops up. - Sense of community and companionship: Gen Z is the generation that makes the most of the internet as assistance for many aspects of their lives. They have been familiar with forging relationships through online communication during the era of remote work. As a result, they demand an environment where they can connect with people they spend the majority of their days collaborating with. It is more productive to work with someone they feel comfortable communicating with and expressing their thoughts. Employers can facilitate these bonds by planning team-wide activities and implementing strong company values. Gen Z workers also seek out mentorship from higher-ups for advice and get a sense of growth opportunities as well as pathways to promotion within the company. They prefer working with people who actually listen to their desire and help with their personal and professional development. What Gen Z really wants is to be accompanied on their career journey by helping them grow in terms of skills and expertise, rather than being told what to do and criticized. - Autonomy, chances to learn and upward mobility: Gen Z does not want to just be in one position for the rest of their lives. Many of them enjoy a dynamic work life where they can experience new challenges and take up new responsibilities as Gen Z is eager to try different things. For some, it is an opportunity to figure out what truly fits their abilities and personality as well as bring out their strengths. Gen Z wants to move away from doing rigid tasks toward learning new skills and wearing multiple hats. Many freshers and graduates choose corporations that embrace multidimensionality since they are still building their unique skill-sets. They want to feel a sense of autonomy over their careers and look for companies that allow them to express what they are interested in and give them opportunities that match. Overall, the opportunity for continued learning and upward mobility is what Gen Z is most excited about when it comes to entering the workforce. Those executing Management Trainee as their recruitment programtend to attract a lot of applicants as newcomers are granted a chance to explore various departments within the company and prepare young leaders for future management roles. - Career choices based on personal preferences: Due to the fact that being born in the era of rising living standards and facing less economic pressure, Gen Z has the need of expressing themselves rather than looking for stability. Gen Z is raised in different circumstances which leads to a different mindset. As they get access to almost everything from a young age and are given good care from parents, they have a certain level of confidence in themselves. Many Gen Z-ers believe that they can assert themselves in any workplace and show a strong ambition of bringing their own identity into their work. So, if they no longer feel that a job is compatible, they can easily leave and search for another one. “Work-life balance, fair pay and value alignment: today's youngest workers want it all – and are willing to walk away if they don't get it.”, says BBC. With their confidence and proactivity, it's understandable that the job-hopping rate is high among Gen Z. This is a double-edged sword since their strong sense of personal uniqueness allows their creativity to flow and come up with innovative ideas, however, being overconfident also blocks them from realizing what they need and what they want.