Nowadays, people tend to generalise the younger generation—namely Generation Z and Millennials—because there’s not much difference in their opinions and backgrounds. They were both born when the internet, social media, and in-depth discussions on gender equality, work-life balance, and workplace safety were mainstream.
As potential employees, these two groups offer a lot to the table for any business or company that takes them in. They can also be found easily through social media and browsing through job-hiring sites, making it easier for companies and businesses to review their profiles. However, from a recruiting standpoint, businesses or employees should be aware of key differences between the younger generation, specifically millennials and Generation Z.
Down below is a short guide to these differences and why you should know them if you plan to hire these talents in the future:
Field of Study
When it comes to their field of study, most millennials take science, healthcare, and business-related courses to prepare for the positions they intend to apply for.
Meanwhile, Generation Z applicants have social science, healthcare, psychology, and sciences degrees. Engineering, in particular, is also popular among Generation Z compared to millennials who consider the course.
Industry Preference
Industry preference influences where a person chooses to work. Millennials prefer to join the industries of education, social services, healthcare, and information technology. Meanwhile, Generation Z prefers to join the industries of social services, business and professional services, healthcare, and education.
If you ask these two groups if they want to join the government, Gen Z applicants would be open to taking related positions. Only a handful of millennials would consider positions related to politics.
Occupations
When you ask these two groups regarding their occupations, you will notice that for millennials, most of them will say their occupations are related to education, computer operations, library work, training and business operations. This matches their chosen field of study and industry preference.
Generation Z’s occupations are more varied, demonstrating their adaptability and openness to different roles. They are attracted to positions in the arts and media department, a route less chosen by millennials. Sales positions are also popular among Gen Z, showcasing their flexibility even in fields unrelated to their studies.
Career Development
When picking a position or career opportunity, both Gen Z and millennials agree that a high salary and work-life balance are crucial before they accept the position. This can be attributed to the current discourse on these topics and the rising prices of goods and services yearly. They are also open to finding avenues to grow into their careers and get promoted as they gain experience.
However, they vary in terms of other factors, such as tasks they must complete and future career growth. Most millennials consider career opportunities, like seminars, educational opportunities, and promotions, as one of the factors they want to see in a position. Meanwhile, Gen Z, as part of their efforts to achieve a work-life balance, would like to know more details about the duties they have to do to determine if the position is perfect for them.
Benefits
Millennials and Gen Z applicants consider the major employee benefits they would receive to determine if the position is good for them. These benefits will be regarded as incentives for them to do their best and stay in the company long. The benefits they are after include medical coverage, paid holidays, and mandatory retirement benefits. Both groups would also look into companies or businesses that offer benefits such as student loan repayments and healthcare benefits like maternity or paternity leave.
Millennials will add bonus incentives such as performance bonuses in their criteria. For Gen Z, benefits like tuition fee reimbursement are a great benefit, especially if the business or company offers education-related opportunities for growth.
Understanding these differences between Gen Z and Millennials is crucial. It empowers businesses to adjust their recruitment strategy and cater to these potential applicants better. This knowledge can help you find and engage with these talents more effectively, even if you don’t hire them. Use the guide above as a reference and adapt it to your industry.
Everything Gen Z under the roof:
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