Made up of about 67 million people, Gen Z (those born after 1995) has officially entered the workforce. To attract and retain these workers, it’s important to understand how they stand out from the rest. A recent Pew Research study found:
- Gen Z was not likely to drop out of high school and more likely to enroll in college.
- Gen Z is more racially and ethnically diverse.
- Gen Z had less work experience in their teens and young adulthood.
With this in mind, here are some ways to appeal to Gen Z candidates in your industry:
Flexibility: Providing flexible work options is a great way to boost candidate interest. Creating work-from-home roles gives Gen Z candidates the freedom to work in their preferred environment, while also broadening your candidate pool.
Diversity: As the most diverse workforce, Gen Z values diversity in the workplace—they want to see their personal communities and experiences reflected and embraced. Employee resource groups or establishing a diversity inclusion officer are great ways to show candidates that you are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Text Recruiting: Want to reach a Gen Z candidate? You may want to try using a smartphone, as a recent study showed that 95 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds had access to a smartphone. Communicating via text is a familiar, low-pressure method for Gen Z candidates and can speed up the recruiting process. Plus, as a recruiter, you can automate outreach and response texts to keep things efficient and compliant.
Mentorship Programs and Career Guidance: Gen Z has seen a lot of ups and downs in the job market. From past economic crashes, to the COVID pandemic, to protests, riots and the effects of climate change—they see that the future is uncertain. Mentorship, training and providing clear career paths can attract Gen Z candidates and show that you value employees for long-term growth, not just to fill an entry-level opening. This is likely to help retain candidates looking for a sense of job security.
Compelling Digital Content: Gen Z cares about your digital content. Case in point: A study asking how people spend their free time found that 74 percent of Gen Z respondents say they spend it online. Create meaningful content that speaks directly to Gen Z about important topics, including your company’s purpose, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, culture and social responsibility. Share this content on your career and social sites to promote organic search through Google. Remember, the more content you create, the more traffic you can lead directly to your website.