Generation Z, otherwise called Gen Z, refers to the generation of people born between the years 1997 and 2012. They’re also called the Zoomers, an indicator of the fast acceptability and adoption of the Internet by them.
Some pundits hold the opinion that this generation may be unable to hold onto traditionally conventional workplace strategies. As such, they need to learn the career growth strategies for Gen Z to stay in the loop.
Career Growth Strategies for Gen Z Professionals
People of this generational class who may have gained meaningful employment and wish to advance need to in their careers.
1. Create a Personal Brand
Gen Z is a generation of people that “grew up with the internet” and had early access to the World Wide Web (WWW) and portable digital technology.
As such, they’re expected to create and grow a powerful personal brand, which is relevant in today’s workplace environment where one’s social media activities speak a lot.
- Communicating the skills, experiences, and values is essential for this generation.
- Create a personal brand that can still stand even if you are not employed or working for someone.
- Be cautious with how you present yourself and what you do online.
2. Work on Constructive Criticism
Generation Z is known for its obvious independent mindset, but even at that, one must have the right mindset to seek feedback on work done and try to improve on the constructive criticism given. This is one of the most vital career growth strategies for Gen Z and all
That way, you’d improve on the gray areas, while seeing new ways to double-down and scale your performance.
3. Make Informed Career Decisions
For a generation of people who adopted the internet at its “birth,” seeking new opportunities that align with the use of the internet is never out of place. However, experts advise that making decisions based on career objectives is important.
Here’s how to look at it:
- Does the decision or move you want to make take you a step further in your career?
- Do these decisions align with your personal and professional values?
- How long would it take to implement these decisions and get the desired results?
Keeping these factors in mind helps an average Gen Z professional to not only make career-focused decisions but also the ones that ensure satisfaction over time.
4. Build Meaningful Relationships as a Gen Z Professional
Generation Z is known for being tech-savvy, but they’re also one of the most sociable. Through the internet, you can build meaningful relationships.
However, to take it a step further, go beyond just collecting or sharing contacts to making positive impacts or contributions to others’ lives.
Start building relationships and networking with like-minded professionals by:
- Reaching out to professionals who you admire and seeking clarity or mentorship.
- Attending industry-focused events.
- Joining professional and volunteer groups both online and offline.
5. Aim for the Top
If you must advance in a chosen career as a Gen Z, then you must always be ambitious. Aiming for the top helps you develop a positive mindset, and build the stamina to keep persevering and developing relevant skills along the way.
Be open to new opportunities too. According to a report by Statista, most of the Gen Z employees evaluated as of 2023 preferred to work hybrid ( a combination of in-person and virtual), while 16% of the demographic opted for fully remote. About 12% preferred the traditional in-person work.
Thus, you must reinvent as time goes on. With virtual or remote work opportunities trumping, you may want to consider jobs that give the flexibility to switch roles.
6. Seek New Knowledge
In a world where social media and other forms of online communications distract younger professionals; you must endeavor to keep your head above the water. Continuously seek new knowledge, both in the area of expertise and other related fields. All these add up to your “knowledge bank,” making you an invaluable asset to any business or company.
Seeking new knowledge also has the following benefits:
- It helps you know the latest trends in your field or industry.
- Continuous learning also exposes you to new opportunities that come with the added information you have.
- Besides, your valuation in the workplace increases due to the knowledge at your disposal, which others may not have access to.
7. Expand Your Skill Sets
Having the theoretical knowledge of a profession is a good start but to work the way up, one needs to gain new related skills. Thus, developing skills is one of the career growth strategies Gen Z professionals must take seriously.
Soft Skills
Also known as common skills, power skills, or core skills, these are the abilities one needs to do basic tasks. Soft skills cut across interpersonal skills, problem-solving, communication, time management, adaptability, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Hard Skills
Also called technical skills, the hard skills are the specific knowledge or abilities needed to complete a job or get a task done. These skills are typically learned through hands-on/real-world experience or education.
Examples are:
- Project management
- Social media marketing
- Accounting
- Presentation skills
- Data collection and analysis
By learning both soft and hard skills, Gen Z professionals can be in a better position to solve technical problems, brainstorm, communicate effectively, and manage their time. These skills also come in handy when there’s a need to be adaptable (i.e. do unconventional things), work within a team, and present your ideas with ease.
What Kind of Careers do Gen Z Professionals take to?
Generally, Gen Z professionals are more likely to job-hop, i.e., switching from one job or career path to the other. Statista aptly captured the reasons for this to include unsatisfactory salary, inability to have a work-life balance, and the absence of remote or hybrid work options. We cannot rule out the longing for adventure, causing these professionals to go all out to see different sides of each career path.
Therefore, if professionals among Generation Z must advance their career growth, they need to take paths that provide most of their options. Examples are:
- Media and entertainment
- Tech
- Education, especially in Educational Technology (EdTech) companies.
- AI
Final Thoughts
Generation Z professionals find joy in seeking work opportunities in industries with the potential to expand in the future and the ones that allow them to bring in their full personality. Hence, while looking to implement the career growth strategies for Gen Z is important, companies and or prospective employers need to create the right environment, which includes offering hybrid or remote work opportunities, making the pay attractive, and infusing a bit of workplace entertainment and flexible communication to make the professionals expressive.
On your part, develop the areas discussed in this article as they form a part of the career growth strategies Gen Z professionals like you need to move to the next stages of their chosen career paths.