𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: 𝗺𝘆 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲: 𝗺𝘆 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸

"They’re great with technology, but can they handle constructive criticism without taking it personally?" 

"They want purpose in their work, but do they understand the value of paying their dues first?" 

"They bring fresh ideas, but will they stick around long enough to see them through?" 

"They’re ambitious and vocal, but sometimes it feels like they skip the ‘hard work’ part of success."  

Sound familiar? These are some of the hard questions many employers are asking about Gen Z employees, often for good reason. (Generation Z, or Gen Z, is the demographic of people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s.)

Although not something any employer wants to admit openly, it's no secret for hiring managers that young entry level employees can be very difficult to work with. Roughly 60 percent of American companies have cut Gen-Z employees they hired this year, according to education and career advisory platform Intelligent.

For every Gen Z worker who may be irresponsible, entitled or rude there is another who is amazing. But being amazing to work with takes humility and effort, it doesn't happen by itself.

Here’s the twist: while Gen Z faces these stereotypes, 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 because they recognize Gen Z workers do have qualities that can make them a driving force for change in the workplace. 

For Gen Z workers, success doesn’t just mean showing up—it means embracing growth, using technology to their advantage, and seeking a sense of purpose. For employers, understanding how to engage and nurture this generation is key to unlocking their potential and ensuring long-term success, but employees have to do their part to work hard

Here's the thing: both groups have needs that not only make sense, but can work together. 

Here are 𝗺𝘆 𝟱 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲—and help employers realize just how valuable they can be!:

1️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 

Success demands growth. Gen Z workers should always seek new opportunities to learn—whether through online courses, certifications, or mentorship. Employers value those who show initiative and a commitment to improvement.  

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Regularly ask, “How can I improve?” to show you’re focused on development.  

2️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

Gen Z is tech-savvy, which is a huge advantage. Using productivity tools and staying current with tech trends can increase efficiency and collaboration. But don't forget to balance tech with essential interpersonal skills like communication and teamwork. Do not use technology, including social media, to air your complaints every time you disagree with others at work.

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Help colleagues with new tools and streamline processes—showing expertise while building trust. 

3️⃣ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴

Gen Z values balance and self-care. Set boundaries to prioritize your mental health, and find employers who offer resources to support it. Resilience is key, as workplace challenges will always arise. A lot of stress can be managed simply by following directions the first time. Also, some kinds of stress are helpful. Being late to work, for example, should lead to stress. It can be easily prevented by taking deadlines and schedules seriously. Being late is never ok, unless it's an emergency.

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Balance self-care with meeting deadlines and staying productive to show reliability and maturity.  

4️⃣ 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 

Networking and building relationships are essential for career growth. Gen Z should engage with colleagues, seek feedback, and foster collaboration. Strong connections open doors for future opportunities. Understand that people who have worked longer deserve your respect and can be a valuable source of knowledge and wisdom

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Be genuinely interested in others—your positive attitude can lead to professional advancement.  

5️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴

Many Gen Z workers seek roles that align with their values. While not every job will feel like a perfect fit at first, focus on making a positive impact and building your skills. Purpose comes with time and dedication.  

👉🏽 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗽: Show dedication and persistence to align your career with your personal values.  

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 

Employers are looking for resilience, adaptability, and growth—not just hard skills. Gen Z has the potential to redefine workplace expectations, but won't without human skills. By embracing continuous learning, leveraging technology, prioritizing well-being, building relationships, and seeking purpose, they can rise above stereotypes and prove their value.