Manpower San Diego’s Post

Phil Blair CAREER ADVICE Good, bad news for college graduates Fun time to be a Gen Z? Not so much. Many of this year’s college graduates started at the height of COVID-19’s remote learning and campus lockdowns. And many didn’t walk at their 2020 high school graduations. Now that they’ve wrapped up final exams, some of those coming amid chaotic nationwide protests, they’re entering a job market that won’t be a breeze. Though most graduates believe they’re ready to enter the “real world,” even the best candidates face a seemingly endless web of filling out job applications, ambiguous timelines and countless rejections. Yes, on the surface, the U.S. job market continues to be strong. But getting on a path to a well-paid job in finance, consulting and technology has become more difficult, with greater competition for fewer entry-level positions. As if not challenging enough, hiring has slowed down to more reasonable levels, and the basics of skills and prior experience are now valued much more than college degrees. Gen Zs are venturing into a workforce where remote and hybrid work now have mainstreamed. That’s both good news and not-so-good news. Gen Z seeks flexibility and work-life balance, but many companies now prefer to see their bright, shiny faces in person on weekday mornings. We all can see the disconnect here.Reshaping the modern workplace With Gen Z expected to overtake baby boomers in the workplace over the next few years, these preferences are reshaping the current workplace. According to Handshake, a popular Gen Z hiring site, nearly two-thirds of college students say they’re more likely to apply for a job with a flexible schedule. Only 11 percent want to fully work in person. Most younger employees, not just Gen Z, want flexibility, both in days at work and hours worked. Yet they also want a mentor relationship that’s present and available. Other than, perhaps, a past internship, they bring little to no experience. They don’t bring the kind of “hit-the-ground-running” skills that most jobs now demand. Then there’s the matter of compensation. Gen Z folks want to be paid what they feel they are worth, rather than what the market in their chosen field is willing to pay. Younger employees also have started to shake up company culture with more casual attire and communication styles, and more frankness about mental health and employer accountability. Watching their parents deal with financial crises caused by the Great Recession also has made them more pragmatic. But as long as the economy continues to chug along nicely, companies large and small will keep hiring to meet demand. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/gkDWTdY3