How Can Recruiters And HR Professionals Attract Generation Z To Fill Job Openings

Defining Gen Z and what motivates them

The emerging workforce is made up of a new generation of workers with ideals and expectations that vary considerably compared to the retiring Baby Boomers and other generations. Generation Z has already impacted how recruiters and HR professionals attract new talent to fill job openings. If you want to recruit young talent from this generation, it may require your organization to make significant changes. 

Let’s dive deeper into defining Generation Z and what motivates them. 

Who is Generation Z? 

Generation Z is defined by their life-long access to the Internet and technological advancements. People from this generation are fairly young; they were born from approximately 1994 to 2010. This young generation is often compared to Generation Y in their propensity to be socially conscious and need for immediate validation. However, research shows that Generation Z has a lot of unique characteristics that separate them. Here are a few defining factors to consider when creating a profile for this group of individuals: 
 

• Self-confident
• Team-oriented
• Seeking happiness at work
• Requiring job security
• Desiring independence over authority

This generation is ready to work hard to achieve their goals, but they also expect quick upward movement and validation while often lacking the specific skills needed for success. 

What Job Perks are Important to Generation Z?

Because Generation Z is ambitious and often lacks specific skills to match their goals, continued training and professional development will probably be very valuable. Therefore, HR professionals and recruiters seeking to attract talent from this generation may want to consider implementing a learning management system to facilitate training and upskilling opportunities that might appeal to their ambitious nature. 

Generation Z is also very attached to technology in their everyday lives. Thus, employers must consider updating any remaining manual or paper-oriented processes. Updating human capital management systems into cloud-based solutions will demonstrate to young applicants that an organization is forward-thinking and up-to-date with the times.  

Other workplace features that may be essential to Generation Z include: 
 

• Social media presence
• Multi-cultural experiences
• Regular feedback 
• Schedule Flexibility
• Face-to-face communication
• Honest and open leadership

Generation Z often values experiences and a sense of fulfillment in their work lives. While many young people in the emerging workforce may seek upward mobility and greater financial gain, it is often to achieve some level of independence and freedom to travel abroad. 

How Can Recruiters and HR Professionals Attract Generation Z to Fill Job Openings? 

When filling out job requisitions and descriptions to attract Generation Z, highlight 5 things: Career Path, Development, Benefits, Social Media Presence, and Tech-Savvy. 

Map-Out a Career Path 

Generation Z is often more motivated by job satisfaction and career prospects than a high salary. This group is looking for a meaningful experience that will progress their overall life goals. Thus, it is vital for recruiters to include information about possible career paths and upward mobility within the organization. 

Showcase Opportunities for Development

Use the job description to demonstrate an investment in their future. Highlight any opportunities for continued training and development. Many job seekers will appreciate any opportunities to improve their skills in the evolving job market, where many are left in the dust when it comes to their skill sets. Generation Z is very aware of the issues caused by the skills gap, so it will be essential for employers to showcase any training or educational programs. 

Offer Interesting Benefits 

Generation Z is motivated by opportunities for exciting life experiences. To attract this generation, employers may consider offering benefits that allow for greater work-life balance. Such benefits might include flexible scheduling, more paid time off, and remote/hybrid work. Highlighting flexibility will go a long way in making your job descriptions stand out to young job seekers. Of course, competitive salaries will also be a huge factor, even if this generation is characterized as valuing experiences over monetary gain. 

Have a Social Media Presence

Having a presence on social media is crucial for recruiting the younger generation. Social media impacts many of the decisions people make today, including where to work. A job seeker may look to your social media pages to better understand what it’s like to work for your organization. Social media is also where many will assess your company’s values and social impact. Thus, maintaining a social presence and managing your reputation online will be a huge part of recruiting from the emerging workforce. 

Be Tech-Savvy in Every Process

Again, Generation Z is very attached to advanced technology and devices. Having up-to-date processes and systems will be crucial if you want to recruit and maintain young employees. Thus, it will be beneficial to provide updated cloud-based tools for every aspect of the employee experience, including: 
 

• Recruitment 
• Employee onboarding
• Time tracking systems 
• Payroll services
• Continued training and development

It’s Time to Prepare for the Future

Even if your organization isn’t looking to hire from the emerging workforce, it is a good idea to go ahead and prepare for the future. This generation isn’t likely to change their workplace expectations anytime soon. So address the five areas listed above and continue researching the ever-changing cultural landscape that defines each generation—You’ll be ahead of the game when it comes to recruiting top talent. 

Ben Tuttle has over a decade of experience working with HR professionals and HR Technologies. He has helped hundreds of organizations find HR technology that suits their business needs. Currently, he is a Product Manager with Proliant, Inc and is launching a new Applicant Tracking System. Follow @ProliantInc