Nearly every company hires workers of various ages and that means multiple generations are represented.
Whenever you get people together from different generations, variations in work ethic, commitment, and motivation are present. Because of their current age range, Gen Z and Millennials make up a great deal of the workforce. Following are some differences in these generations when it comes to seeking a job.
The value of teamwork.
Gen Z was raised during a time where most people obsess over their phones and demand access to the internet. Perhaps for this reason, Gen Z likes to figure things out on their own and work by themselves. Conversely, Millennials put a high value on working as a team. They look for input from others when making a decision. This makes a big difference when seeking a job as Millennials are going to look for ways to work with their coworkers where Gen Z might be perfectly happy working in isolation.
Drive behind work.
Different factors motivate Gen Z and Millennials. Because Millennials enjoy the teamwork factor of work, they like companies that work toward a social good and that shares their values. They also want work-life balance. While these things are important to a Gen Zer, they are also motivated by gaining marketable skills and by career advancement. In addition, Gen Z places equity and diversity high on their list of requirements from an employer.
Education.
Millennials were still highly impacted by Boomers, and sometimes Gen X, who greatly valued a higher education. They viewed is as essential for getting a job and therefore, a bachelor’s degree or higher was coveted. Not so much for Gen Z. They are more into nontraditional forms of education. You are more likely to catch them viewing videos online or taking classes on their own to gain real-world experience tailored to what they want to accomplish.
When applying for jobs, Gen Z also looks for different kinds of benefits than Millennials.
Beyond the basics which both want, maternity leave and tuition reimbursement are important to Gen Z, while bonuses and student loan repayment stands out to Millennials. If you’re in one of these generations or a recruiter looking to hire either a Gen Zer or Millennial, it helps to know what motivates each generation to go to work. Like with most generations, there are similarities, but there are also key differences which need to be addressed.
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