How to Attract Gen Z Grads: A Guide

As college students prepare to leave the campuses they've called home for the last four years, they're looking towards the next stages of life, finding a career. Recruitment season for businesses is a vital time to present the "grand plan" onboarding strategy. I'm going to give you a sneak peak into three tips of my Gen-Z Guidebook for snagging a good new-hire. Disclaimer, I am not an expert in this field, I am merely expressing the viewpoints of a soon-to-be college grad in the same position. 

For recent grads, leaving the community and friends they've grown to see as family can be a tough transition. As the job searching process begins for many, they're looking to the companies who have good culture and value the work-life balance. They're searching for coworkers who turn into friends and foster the same relationships they learned to make at college when they were the newbies on campus four years ago. 

I think every business can agree that finding a hardworking employee, with three years of relative experience, and five letters of recommendation at an entry level position is a bit of a reach. However, finding a fresh college grad with strong soft skills and a degree in your relative career field is in your very grasp! The senior class of 2020-2021 faced one of the biggest challenges since the recession, graduating with little to no experience in the midst of a massive layoff spree. They persevered, were patient, and continued to put in the work with little reassurance. This generation is looking to the companies that are willing to give them the same effort with patience as they work to gain on-the-job training in a real office, compared to the comfort of their "Zoom offices". 

As a college student and a part of Gen Z myself, I have witnessed this historical year firsthand as it directly affects me for the very first time. Social media applications like Tik Tok have shown this generation that their voice matters and they can be their true self inside and out. When looking towards a career, businesses who stand out to prospective employees are ones who can 'talk the talk' but also 'walk the walk'. This means hiring POC (People Of Color), LGBTQ, and giving women opportunities to showcase their leadership skills; in other words, an equal chance. 

Ask yourself, does your business do these three small tasks? Do you succeed in retainment or recruitment efforts? Does your technique correlate with retainment and these tips? If it does not, I encourage everyone of you leaders to rethink your brand and consider the possibilities of bettering your business for the next generation of your field's future.