7 Career Tips for Gen Zers
Unemployment and AI are big short-term challenges, but it’s never too early to chart a career path.
Every generation has its unique challenges when it enters the workforce, and Gen Z is no different. The current job market isn’t great for anyone, but it’s particularly bad for young people, with unemployment at 7.8%—nearly double the rate overall—for college graduates between ages 20 and 24. Experts say AI is suppressing the number of young recruits many companies need—or want—to hire.
But the market isn’t ideal even for those Gen Zers who’ve got jobs. They often work outside traditional offices and lack face-to-face access to mentors, which can lead them to be more isolated than their predecessors were. “Recent college graduates are not having as many conversations with professionals,” says Korn Ferry Advance career coach David Meintrup. “They operate in a vacuum.” In many cases, the older workers they interact with may seem worn down, which helps explain why an overwhelming number of Gen-Z workers say they never want to be managers.
If any generation could use some career advice, it’s Gen Z. Indeed, three-quarters of Gen Zers say they get career advice from social media, and a quarter of them say they’ve sought out, and followed, career tips from ChatGPT. We thought Korn Ferry’s experts could do a little better, so we canvassed them for tips—both for evergreen thoughts applicable to any group of young people, and also for advice specific to Gen Z.
Practice what you want to do.
The market being what it is, getting a job in the field you specifically want can be really hard. Experts advise finding nontraditional ways to develop the skills you’re seeking. For example, if you want a job in investment management but can only find a role in accounting, they suggest focusing on your 401(k). Make it a model portfolio that maximizes returns and minimizes risks. That portfolio now becomes something to talk about—and potentially share—during a future job interview with investment managers.
Identify your strengths and improve your weaknesses.
“Get good at something first—ideally something hard, useful, and in demand,” says Marnix Boorsma, a senior client partner in Korn Ferry’s Amsterdam office. Of course, if Gen Zers are anything like the generations that preceded them, they might not know yet what exactly they’re good at. Ask for feedback on your work. Find out what you’re doing well, and where you can improve. Don’t take negative feedback personally—use it to improve your performance.
Be a good teammate.
About 80% of the average workday is spent collaborating with other people. You can’t always control the outcome of your project, but you can control how hard you worked to produce it. Giving your best effort not only makes you better, but can also inspire your teammates to do the same. “On top-performing teams, success is in your teammates’ hands—and their success is in your hands,” says Adam Wood, leader for Korn Ferry’s Technology and Digital Officers practice in EMEA.
Don’t compare yourself to others too much.
Social media makes it easy to compare yourself—often unfavorably—to other people, whether it’s their looks, wealth, or career. It’s a trap that can happen at the office, too. Instead of celebrating a team member’s success, for instance, people end up worrying that they themselves aren’t doing enough, which can lead to them to take on more work than they can handle. That in turn creates anxiety and stress, and even burnout.
Similarly, Royal says, perceptions of unfairness can lead employees to withdraw discretionary effort or fall into bad habits—procrastinating, missing deadlines—as a way of getting back at their boss. Ignoring everything is often impossible, but experts suggest just focusing on doing good work.
Treat your professional network like your social network.
Plenty of Gen Zers spend hours every day trying to expand their social lives. They spend far less time doing the same for their professional contacts. It’s those professional contacts, not a blanket emailing of 100 résumés, that will lead to professional opportunities. Attend career fairs, join industry-related LinkedIn groups, connect with alumni, and follow thought leaders in your field.
Don’t be passive, either. Use professional sites such as LinkedIn to scout older professionals who have jobs that interest you, then drop them a line to see if they’ve got a few minutes to talk about their careers with you. Ask them about the experiences that got them to where they are now, as well as the skills they’ve needed to keep developing. After each conversation, always send a thank-you note and ask if you can follow up from time to time. “Be really intentional,” says Renee Whalen, Korn Ferry’s North America consumer market leader.
Be a better speaker… and listener.
Gen Zers will admit it: They’re not the best communicators. In a 2023 poll, 65% of them said they struggle to make conversation with colleagues. That’s a problem, experts say, since poor interpersonal skills can lead to misunderstandings and hinder performance on the job. It can be difficult to initiate conversations and ask questions, but these are important ways to establish common ground with colleagues.
Listening is as important as speaking. Experts say Gen Zers should stay focused on what people are saying around them, suspend judgment, and try to understand different perspectives. By developing these skills, Gen-Z employees can make more positive first impressions, improve professional relationships, and burnish their professional reputations.
Be patient.
Gen Xers weren’t patient when they entered the workforce. Nor were millennials. Now it’s Gen Zers who are champing at the bit, wanting to change the world and make everything perfect instantly. Complicating matters is the fact that many of them grew up with food, photos, music, and nearly anything else they wanted right at their fingertips. Earlier generations found out the working world doesn’t function that way; Gen Zers are starting to figure that one out, too. “It’s not all about instant gratification,” says Dennis Deans, Korn Ferry’s global human resources business partner. A successful career takes decades. Instead of asking, “Why don’t I have this perfect job now?”, ask “What skills and experiences can I start acquiring to get a job I really want?”
Sure, there’s value in trying to speed things up, but experts say there’s also value in slowing down and taking time to reflect on a problem. Indeed, leadership coaches routinely stress that taking a pause leads to far better decision-making. Prioritizing also can help build patience.
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