How to hire Generation Z, the generation that’s about to turn the job market upside down. We give you 4 tips.
Every generation is more connected than the last, and the latest generation, Generation Z, is no exception. They’re known as “digital natives”, meaning they were brought up with a computer and access to the Internet. They didn’t discover technology, they were born into it. A report from the HackerRank programming platform gives us a better understanding of these future professionals, enabling technology companies to adapt their recruitment processes. Here are four tips for recruiters.
1. Generation Z women want to work for prestigious employers
Developers of all ages consider career advancement and continuing education to be the two most important aspects of a job. However, Gen Z women are twice as likely to seek a prestigious employer brand than women of previous generations. HackerRank explains the situation by the fact that they have spent most of their lives surrounded by prestigious technology brands such as Apple, Facebook or Google. They therefore want to be hired by these same brands.
Tip for technology companies: Don’t neglect your employer brand, as it will be increasingly important for the new generation of female developers.
2. Compensation is not yet part of their selection criteria
Gen Z women attach less importance to remuneration than previous generations. 26% of women from older generations consider pay to be an important factor in a job, whereas this is the case for only 16% of Gen Z women. This could be explained by the fact that most Generation Z women don’t currently have the same financial obligations as others. They may therefore consider remuneration less important than brand prestige. This could change as more and more Gen Z women enter the workforce.
Tip for technology companies: Have a clear and transparent pay rise policy, then you’ll enable all your female employees, experienced or not, to be able to ask for a promotion.
3. Preparation, preparation, preparation
All Gen Z developers want transparency in the hiring process, whether it’s for an internship or a job. Lack of clarity is one of their biggest irritants. Generation Z is new to the job market and has limited experience of interviews, which probably explains why women (47%) and men (45%) are particularly put off by employers who don’t adequately prepare candidates for what to expect during the interview process. What’s more, 66% of recent graduates feel unprepared for job interviews.
Tip for technology companies: Inform candidates about the interview process, right from your first conversations. Make sure you clearly describe your role and how your company will conduct interviews.
4. Bye bye Silicon Valley and welcome Shanghai and Bangalore
Women developers in the Asia-Pacific region no longer see Silicon Valley as the place to be for technology. If they think differently, it’s probably due to the rising cost of living, which is forcing entrepreneurs and head offices to relocate, but also to the sex scandals that have been making headlines for three years now. The new hot spot for Asia-Pacific’s Generation Z technologists is Shanghai. Women of this generation also believe that Bangalore has a great chance of becoming the center of technology in the next five years.
Tip for technology companies: Bear in mind that all female candidates may wish to live and work in a different location. So it’s important for employers to consider remote working.
