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By Suzanne Blake
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Gen Z is getting nervous about how the group's age translates on a job application, and it's about more than just a natural lack of experience.
In an iHire report of nearly 1,000 Gen Zers and 200-plus employers, a substantial portion of people born between 1997 and 2012 said they had fears around how negative stereotypes of their generation influenced their job search.
In total, 34.4 percent said they think these assumptions would adversely impact their job prospects and career advancement this year, and employers were also quick to label the younger generation as lazy, entitled, and lacking commitment and work ethic.
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"There are a lot of negative biases regarding Gen Z, some of which have elements of truth, most of which are unfair," Andy Nisevic, the director of One Degree Training & Coaching, told Newsweek. "The most common complaints I hear surround assumptions of disloyalty and lack of flexibility, despite expecting flexibility for themselves."
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"Gen Z is absolutely justified to worry about stereotypes and ageism during their job searches," HR consultant Bryan Driscoll told Newsweek. "The belief that this generation is plagued by an entitled mentality, lack of commitment, or poor work ethic is not just inaccurate—it's fundamentally misguided."
There were some good stereotypes sprinkled into the mix, however. Many people called Gen Z "tech-savvy" and "socially conscious."
But there was also a mismatch between how Gen Z viewed their own capabilities in the workforce. Almost three-quarters of Gen Zers (73.7 percent) said their office etiquette skills were "excellent" or "good," yet over half of employers (52.8 percent) said the generation needed to improve upon this.
And 48.4 percent of employers said this age group was lacking in the resume department, despite 68.4 percent of Gen Zers thinking theirs helped them in landing a job.
Pamela Skillings, co-founder and chief coach at Big Interview and co-founder of Skillful Communications, said many employers are demanding years of experience for even the most entry-level jobs, effectively keeping Gen Z out.
"People who are new to the workforce are competing against those with more experience and more connections," Skillings told Newsweek. "It can be very discouraging."
The report found 38.6 percent of Gen Z job seekers said they struggled to find roles they were qualified for, and 25.6 percent of respondents found many employers have unrealistic expectations.
Driscoll said that while Gen Z seeks fair pay, equity, respectful treatment, and a balanced life outside work, these are reasonable expectations that any responsible employer should strive to meet.
"They're not even asking for what was promised and delivered to prior generations, something entirely unachievable in today's environment of massive and record company profits at the expense of employee well-being and economic success," Driscoll said.
"As Gen Z permeates the workforce, employers need to understand how to recruit, retain, engage, and motivate this group," Steve Flook, iHire's President and CEO, said in a statement. "Likewise, Gen Z candidates must understand employers' expectations and how to best market themselves to find the right jobs."
Nisevic said Gen Zers can generally improve their job market chances if they figure out how to show they're motivated to showing loyalty, while employers can stand out to the newer generation if they prioritize corporate social responsibility and flexibility.
"Employers who can show how they can provide that, will take advantage of the energy, passion, and creativity that comes from those in the early stages of their careers," Nisevic said.
If hiring managers make decisions with their age biases in mind, there could likely be stagnation for the companies that fail to adapt to the evolving workforce landscape, Driscoll added.
"Employers must recognize that meeting the changing desires of the workforce is not just beneficial but necessary for their own long-term success," Driscoll said.
Sean Lyons, a professor of leadership and management at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, Canada, said the stereotypes are pervasive and can even affect how employees view themselves and each other.
"Young people have always been criticized for having a poor work ethic relative to their seniors, and this has been much worse since we started using generational labels such as millennials and Gen Z," Lyons told Newsweek. "Like all stereotypes, the characterizations of Gen Z are mostly off-base and they are inappropriate and potentially harmful when they're applied to individuals."
"Age and generation are a basis for diversity, so it's no more appropriate to stereotype Gen Z than it would be to stereotype on other bases like gender, race, or religion. All of these factors are part of the mosaic that make people unique and it's critical to look at the whole person," Lyons added.
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