Besides a handsome pay, what do students–our future workers, look for in a company? – Stability. With the waterfall of “six-figure side hustles” and “become a millionaire overnight,” Gen Zers are becoming more anxious on how their careers would look like.
This imposes a challenge to staffing firms on what they can offer Gen Zers. In addition, it also paints an abstract of how the staffing market can become more alluring than regular, corporate, desk jobs.
In this blog, we’ll drive straight to what staffing firms can do to meet and even exceed what Gen Z wants and needs to make them feel like everything is fair.
Gen Z and Financial Pressure
One of the things that worry Gen Zers the most is financial pressure. Who wouldn’t? With everything you consume on the internet today, you will definitely feel and find pressure in whatever you do.
According to PYMNTS, 73 percent of millennials and 68 percent of Gen Zers are living paycheck to paycheck ¹. Moreover, they respond to it by taking side hustles, with the hopes to get out of the rat race as fast as they can.
But other than those nifty side hustles and extra jobs they take, what can make them say that they are in the “best” company?
6 Priorities of Gen Zers in Seeking Jobs
Being prepared to hire Gen Zers should be one your concerns as staffing firms. And, with the ever-changing landscape of employment, it’s only right that we need to adapt.
Staying where we are does not only hinder us from exploring other outlooks, but it can also mean the end. Just look at and learn about Nokia’s admittance that they lacked vision – where did that take them?
Here are six of the top priorities Gen Z jobseekers are looking for before inking a deal!
Work-Life Balance Aligned Compensation
Social media today has been talking about nothing but work-life balance. How the wealthy don’t burn time for dollars, how young people are able to make six figures on their laptops, are among the verbiages Gen Zers see and hear online.
According to 70 percent of the total respondents, compensation, aligned with work-life balance has been the most important factor ² in choosing a job. This doesn’t only let transparency out, but it also lets candidates know you’re committed to equal pay.
One of the most common misconceptions about staffing firms is that they take bigger cuts than candidates. When, in fact, that’s not the case! Break the stigma with transparency – it will go a long way!
Clarity on Career Path and Growth
Let’s not forget the ever-so-growing community of solopreneurs and business owners in today’s world. This greatly influenced the minds of Gen Z candidates to aspire for better, greater, and more developed opportunities.
In fact, a total of 71 percent of the respondents said they’re looking forward to being promoted in 6 months to 1.5 years. Furthermore, 1 of 5 Gen Zers said that they’re more willing to stay and nurture with an organization that has reskilling or upskilling offers to move forward with what they know.
Gen Zers are suckers for knowledge, mentorship, and support. Having such a program within the organization can get them to be more interested!
Technology in Today’s Professional Landscape
Gen Z’s financial pressure is real. This is also the reason why some of them took an additional job, and guess what? That job was either directly related to social media or technology.
Talk about the change from physical labor to sitting in front of a computer for hours! Most of the side jobs taken by Gen Z employees are dependent on social media or tech. In fact, the top ones are linked to e-commerce!
That’s why staffing firms should always be on the lookout for newer and better technology. Being stagnant where you are now can cost you good-quality candidates – or worse, good-quality business.
Modernized Benefits and Perks
Who said money was the only thing that drove people crazy? Candidates’ wants are actually driving the market. Many Gen Z entrants aren’t focused on higher pay; most of them say benefits and perks are the top reason they’ll stay with an organization.
This includes flexible working schedules, freeing themselves from stringent timeframe and requirements. Additionally, some of them look for healthcare perks that can either be for them or family members.
Benefits and perks, regardless of niche, are the main drivers of today’s workforce. And staffing firms must be creative in what they’ll offer their candidates.
DEIB Commitment
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) have been the pillars of Gen Z’s wanted traits from the people around them. And no, it’s not only when it comes to careers and profession.
DEIB also includes the LGBTQ community, which Gen Zers have been complete allies of, not to mention their protest for Black American equality. The Gen Z demographic have been clear supporters of equality, and that’s one of the things they look for in an organization they’ll work with.
So, be sure to clarify your DEIB commitments both in and outside your organization!
Nurturing Community and Collaboration
And for the last priority, Gen Zers tend to choose organizations that promote cultural and communal collaboration. This doesn’t mean you and your peers will be confined inside a four-cornered structure. It only means they want to feel appreciated and recognized.
Plenty of organizations are implementing remote or hybrid setups. And if your organization is one of them, what do you think candidates will feel if they don’t feel the organization’s collaborative efforts?
Gen Zers loves to have fun, and that’s what they want to see in whatever field of work they’ll choose. Just because it’s labeled as fun, doesn’t always mean that it’s all games. Fun can be anything from weekly no-work meetings, building culture, nurturing talent, and more!
Be creative with how you nurture your candidates. Remember, your staffing firm’s core is your pool of candidates!
Most companies resist adapting to change because they’re not used to it. But in today’s world, especially when it comes to employment, organizations must consider changing with the times to accommodate more and bigger fish in the sea.
ALLIED INSIGHT IS THE BEST FULL-STACK MARKETING FIRM FOR YOUR PROCESSES
Hiring can be tough, but with the right processes in place, it’s a walk in the park. Allied Insight’s expertise in staging and strategic hiring might just be what you’re looking for. We’ve caught up with changes in hiring and we can inject this marketing strategy into your company, so you breathe with it.
We’re committed to providing you with the best and newest marketing trends. You wouldn’t have to worry about being a top choice for Gen Zers! Reach out to us and get updated with the latest strategies on client and candidate marketing!
References
1 PYMNTS. “73% of Millennials Still Live Paycheck-To-Paycheck But Savings Cushions Are Rising”. https://www.pymnts.com/connectedeconomy/2023/73percent-of-millennials-still-live-paycheck-to-paycheck-but-savings-cushions-are-rising/ 3 May. 2023.
2 Carnegie, Megan “Why Gen Z Are so Motivated By Pay.” 31 May. 2023. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230530-why-gen-z-are-so-motivated-by-pay.
