Say “Hello” to Gen Z!

No, they’re not millennials, and they’re about to, once again, flip your organization on its head!

According to Stillman and Stillman, the authors of Gen Z @ Work, this newest generation was born between 1995 and 2012 and they are your interns, new college grads and young employees. Are you ready for them? They are high energy individualists and ready to work!

Here’s 3 things that make them unique:

1.     They want to stand out in a crowd- team playing does not excite them. You know those “open design” work spaces you created for your Gen X’s and Millennials? Well, Gen Z’s are going to ask “Where’s my office?”

2.     They want to help create their own job that fits their unique strengths, skills and interests. Most have been very active in their lives and have a variety of talents. How can they use them on the job?

3.     They want to be sure that their company is stable. They are not so interested in switching employers every couple of years. Remember, due to their connection with technology, from an early age they have seen an unstable world – global warming, terrorism, active shooters, political unrest…. A strong organization that is making a positive impact on the world will keep Gen Z’s longer.

Like the couple of generations before them, this group does not like to be labeled. Understanding the cultural issues that impact their decisions, values and work ethic will help you to be more prepared for them, but not make assumptions that they are alike. They are certainly not!