Buzz
As time quickly passes, you may find yourself figuring out how to navigate a post-recession economy. This year marks the graduation of a new generation from college: Generation Z. They face a competitive job market and an uncertain economy. Here's some expert advice for the latest grads stepping into the workforce.
Improve Your Communication Skills
As blunt as it may sound, the Digital Age is truly eroding our in-person, real-world communication. Patricia Greenfield, a UCLA psychology professor who has researched this trend, told their newsroom:
Decreased ability to interpret emotional cues — losing the skill to recognize others' emotions — is one of the consequences. The shift from face-to-face interactions to screen-based communication seems to be diminishing social skills.
Christy Hopkins concurs. As the HR Staff Writer at FitSmallBusiness.com, she advises new grads to focus on enhancing their verbal communication skills to counter the trend (and the stereotype).
Before entering the job market, recent college graduates should practice their '30-second sales pitch,' as suggested by Hopkins.
Rehearse your 'elevator pitch' — explain what you want to do and why, address common new graduate questions about your top achievements in school, how you entered your field, and so on. Practice with friends and family to help ensure smooth conversations.
This advice is valuable for anyone, but it’s especially crucial when you're young, inexperienced, and perhaps overly accustomed to communicating through email or text, as Hopkins pointed out:
Many new graduates tell me, 'I’ve applied to so many jobs, I don’t know which company or role you’re referring to.' That comes across as rather lazy and ultimately unimpressive.
Let’s be real: new graduates are under tremendous pressure to find a job in a competitive market, so they’re likely casting a wide net, hoping something sticks. In other words, they’re applying to every available job, and it can be tough to keep track of resume after resume.
Create a system to track your job applications so you’ll know exactly what you’re interviewing for if you get a callback. A basic Excel spreadsheet will do: just add columns for the employer, the role you’re applying for, and a link to the job description, if available. It makes the job search more organized, but it’s better than looking unprepared.
Clean Up Your Social Media Profiles
It’s not just employers, but also landlords and lenders. Social media acts as an informal background check and has become a common method for vetting job candidates.
Better yet, take your social media presence to the next level. Share insightful articles related to your industry. Update your bio to something more professional. And, of course, create an outstanding LinkedIn profile.
Revamp Your Résumé
You want your résumé to stand out, and that means highlighting skills that hiring managers truly value. It’s obvious, but some employers may wrongly assume that, just because you’re a Gen Z-er, you’ve grown up with modern conveniences and don’t know what it means to work hard.
This is a foolish stereotype, so make sure your résumé defies it.
It's a great idea for Gen Z-ers to show their understanding of the value of hard work on their résumé or in interviews,” said Valerie Streif, a Senior Advisor with thementat.com, an employment firm. “Talking about a challenging summer job or highlighting tasks from an unpaid internship can effectively demonstrate this quality.”
On the flip side, it’s crucial to understand that your résumé isn’t just about you. It may seem counterintuitive, but career coach David Shindler explains it this way:
A common pitfall is focusing too much on yourself and your own desires. Employers are primarily concerned with what they need and how you can contribute to their goals. Do your homework and bring something to the table that the employer might not know about their industry or market.
You also want to show, not just tell, says Shindler. Don’t merely claim you’re great at overcoming challenges—be specific about the challenges you’ve faced. While it’s easy to do this during an interview, there are ways to highlight this on your résumé as well.
Use other people’s words to showcase your strengths instead of your own. Highlight your portfolios, designs, languages, personal websites, and blogs. Leave something behind that makes you memorable,” Shindler advised. Don’t leave your personality at the door. Show genuine interest in the job, the employer, and their world.
Highlight the Right Skills
When you're just starting your career, you may not have much work experience. To make up for that, focus on developing a strong foundation of soft skills, such as taking initiative, active listening, having a perspective, and a willingness to think creatively.
More and more, employers are seeking new hires who communicate effectively, demonstrate resilience, and are self-driven,” Shindler said. “They want individuals with the right character to blend seamlessly into their team. Unless they need a specialist, they will train you on specific technical or functional skills once you’re hired.
You can cultivate these skills in a variety of settings: internships, volunteer work, part-time jobs, or even personal hobbies. There are numerous reasons employers might hire someone beyond just their experience.
Don’t Hesitate to Negotiate
Negotiating your first salary can be tough—but failing to negotiate can cost you significantly in the long run.
A few years back, a study published in the Journal of Organizational Behavior circulated, revealing that people who negotiated their starting salaries earned, on average, $5,000 more. Over the course of a career, this adds up to $600,000. While there are some exceptions (for instance, you can make up for this with a higher-paying job switch), the main takeaway is clear: negotiating really pays off.
“A surprising number of Generation Z individuals don’t negotiate their first salary,” said Streif. “While the reason behind this is unclear, it might stem from not viewing the job as a long-term opportunity or from the subconscious anxiety about finances due to growing up during the Great Recession.”
Either way, Streif advises Generation Z-ers to do their homework before settling on a salary. Websites like Glassdoor and Payscale make it incredibly easy to compare salaries, both in your industry and at the company you’re considering. Research is a valuable tool when it comes to salary negotiations.
Naturally, it can feel awkward to say, “Could you bump my salary by $5,000 even though I have no experience?” So, don’t say that. Instead, focus on the skills and qualities you bring to the table that employers are looking for.
Additionally, think of it this way: at some point in your career, you’ll likely need to negotiate. The earlier you get comfortable with it, the better. That’s another solid reason to negotiate your starting salary—even if it feels intimidating. Just ask and consider it a learning experience. And if you succeed? Even better.
