The Center for Generational Kinetics: Huge Workforce Change to Hit Your Recruiting Pipeline This Spring

By Megan HeadleyDoes your business depend on adding entry-level painters to your staff once the exterior painting season gets underway? Then it's worth noting that the high school and college graduates hitting the workforce this May and June are among the earliest members of Generation Z, a new generation with distinct expectations about the workforce and your management style.Generation Z, which includes individuals born roughly from 1995 on, is proving to have significant differences from the Millennials-and that may be a good thing.They see the value of hard workFor starters, a recent report from the Center of Generational Kinetics notes that Generation Z tends to have a strong work ethic. Growing up during the Great Recession, many members of this generation saw their parents or older siblings put out of work. In addition, this generation has watched Millennials struggle with unprecedented levels of student debt. As a result, they're driven to work hard. Already nearly a quarter of the members of Gen Z hold a part-time job, 23% does odd jobs and other short-term work, and 22% earns allowance with chores and other responsibilities.They need your feedbackCompanies that focus on an annual review may need to update some of their processes. The Center's report notes that two-thirds of Gen Z needs feedback from their supervisor at least every few weeks simply to stay at their job. If that isn't startling enough, 20% of members of Gen Z need feedback daily-or several times each day-in order to stay with an employer.There's actually a great benefit for employers in this frequent communication. Generation Z wants feedback to help them learn and develop professionally. Mentorships can be an excellent retention tool here. Make sure your crew leaders are prepared to offer a quick comment on technique on the regular and you'll gain both a happy employee and a skilled craftsman over time.They're not looking for work in the same way as MillennialsGen Z is the first generation to be completely immersed in Internet connectivity, and yes social media takes up a huge amount of their connected time. So you might assume like your Millennial hires they're starting their job search online. You'd be wrong.Gen Z is starting their job search journey by talking to trusted people around them. Sixty percent of Gen Z is likely to ask friends or family about job openings, and 57% are likely to ask someone they know who already works at the company.While the report notes that this job search mindset could be tied in part to Gen Z's current age, it could also be an emerging trend. This group is known for turning to social media influencers on many topics; on this biggest topic they may simply be looking for genuine insight from their most trusted influencers.Of course, Generation Z is scoping out job openings online, but they're not starting on Craigslist or Facebook. It's all about YouTube. If you don't already have a video online that showcases your company's benefits and expectations, now is the time to start filming.Megan Headley is managing editor of APC magazine. She can be reached at editorial@paintmag.com. Article Issue Name: February 28, 2019Category: EmployeesKeywords: generation z, hiring, management