Generation Z: Who Are They?

Move over, millennials. There’s a new revolutionary generation in town, and it’s called Generation Z. These young professionals are moving into the workplace, filling the spots of baby boomers who are reaching retirement age at a faster rate each day. Born between 1994-2010, this generation is just starting to reach the end of their college careers and enter our workforce. So what does that mean for us, the business owners and professionals currently occupying this work space? The first to outnumber millennials, Generation Z is technologically savvy, flexible in the workplace, and hungry for more knowledge. If we can adjust our working style to assist and work with these young professionals, our organizations will jet into the future faster than we can say, ‘Did you see the new Snapchat filter?’

Generation Z includes some of the first children who were born in the age of smart phones and high-speed internet. Yes, some of the ‘Gen Zers’ will vaguely remember flip phones and dial-up internet, but the majority of this growing generation learned how to operate an iPhone before they could tie their shoes. These young professionals are used to adjusting to new technology every few months, and are equally flexible in the workplace.

One of the most important ways that we as business owners can adjust to the influx of Generation Z into the workplace is to provide a flexible work environment. Generation Z isn’t looking to clock in and out 8 hours a day to sit in a cubicle. They want open, collaborative work spaces and opportunities to work from home (or wherever they can hotspot from their cell phones).

As Generation Z moves into the professional working world, they bring with them an entirely new wave of decision making. These young workers aren’t just looking to work and go home, they want to actively change the world. They want to be leaders, subject matter experts, and commanding voices in their industries. These kids aren’t to be ignored; we need to welcome them into our organizations and take them seriously as they learn to spread their wings.

Ready to welcome the first wave of Generation Z into your organization? Contact Us at Social Media Energy to get your company active and successfully on the web via our digital marketing experts.