GenZ Job Search: What You Need to Know
By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter
I know finding a job as a GenZer can be tough, but I’m here to give you some advice that will help you land a job.
00:00 Introduction
00:42 Preface for those who have not graduated college or started college yet
01:27 Highlight your digital skills
01:53 Do internships and volunteer work
02:18 Be creative
02:37 Actually negotiate
03:11 Be yourself. Risk everything
03:50 A story
04:43 Outro
Why Are GenZ Employees Failing at Work
Hi, I’m Jeff Altman, and I’m here today to talk with you about finding a job as GenZer. I know it can be tough, but I want to offer you some advice, tips that will help you land your position. Now, let’s start off with the premise that you’re looking for a job. You’re part of a generation that’s more tech-savvy, or entrepreneurial, or socially conscious than any before you. You’re facing a job market that’s more competitive than ever. What do you do? So I’ve got some advice for you.
And let me just preface this by saying, if you’re in a situation where you’re pre- college, and you have an aptitude for math and hard science, dig in deep, switch directions, go toward that, because artificial intelligence, I’m not talking about chat GPT, per se, but AI is going to shape so much of work going forward. And these areas, math, science, biology, physics, are going to be things that are going to be impacted differently, and more advantageously for you. So again, if you’re before college, you have that option.
But let’s say you’re out of college, you’re out of school, what can you do? And the first thing is highlight your digital skills. You grew up with this technology. You have strong digital skills. Be sure you highlight these on your resume, in a cover letter, because employers are looking for people who can use technology to solve problems and improve efficiency, and sometimes tell them what to do.
Number two is get involved with internships and volunteer work. They offer you a great way to get experience and learn new skills. They can also help you network with people in your field. So when you’re looking for internships, and volunteer opportunities, be sure to focus on organizations that are relevant to your career goals.
Number three is be creative. Don’t just rely on job boards. Get creative by attending industry events, networking with people on LinkedIn, and reaching out to companies directly. The more people you know, the more likely you are to hear about positions.
Fourth, is don’t be afraid to negotiate. If you’re offered a job, don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary and sometimes your benefits. You’re known for being more confident and assertive than previous generations. So use this to your advantage. And if that isn’t you, do the best. You can watch my video called The Easiest Way to Negotiate a Higher Salary for Yourself because they will give you a very gentle way of doing negotiation if you’re not someone who could be more aggressive.
The Easiest Way to Negotiate a Higher Salary for Yourself
The last point I want to make is be yourself. And by that I always talk about risking everything. So often people go on interviews, it’s not just about Gen Z, it’s about all demographics. They go on interviews, and you’re nice, and they’re polite, and they’re not themselves. Be authentic. Be you. Don’t try to act in a particular way because your parents told you that you’re supposed to act this way. Employers want to hire people who are genuinely passionate about their work.
And I just want to relate a story about someone who I helped, who graduated college right before the pandemic. So a lot of the job search got wiped out. And when he went interviewing, he had not found anything for 9, 10 months. And he was asked on the interview, what are you looking for? And he said, “I’m not looking for a high-pressure environment, but one where I can do good work and get mentorship.” And his Mom and Dad shook their heads. “Oh! Not the right answer.” But it was. It was a mature answer that identified what his personal needs were and if he wasn’t hired, he would have been okay with that, even if they weren’t. So risk it all by saying the truth about what you want and what you need.
So I hope you found this helpful. I’m Jeff Altman. My website is TheBigGameHunter.us. Go to the blog. Go exploring. There’s just a lot there to help you. And when you get to a point where you need even more help, I’m going to point you to my video courses, books and guides. The video courses particularly around interviewing are very good. And if you need advice from me, you can schedule time for what I call a trusted advisor services where I answer people’s questions. Also, if you want coaching throughout your job search, you can schedule a time for a free discovery call to evaluate me or schedule time for coaching which I’ll obviously charge for.
Lastly, connect with me on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter. Have a terrific day can be great!
Tech-Savvy GenZ: Navigating Job Search in the Digital Age
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
People hire Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter to provide No BS Career Advice globally because he makes many things in peoples’ career easier. Those things
can involve job search, hiring more effectively, managing and leading better, career transition, as well as advice about resolving workplace issues.
Schedule a discovery call at my website, www.TheBigGameHunter.us
He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with over 2600 episodes.
Website: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us (schedule a paid coaching session, a free discovery call or ask questions using my Trusted Adviser Services)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/TheBigGameHunter
Courses: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us/courses
Books and Guides: https://www.TheBigGameHunter.us/books
Resume & LinkedIn Profile critiques www.TheBigGameHunter.us/critiques
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