Who are the Gen Z: An Overview of the First Fully Digital Generation

Typically dubbed as the generation that lacks a strong work ethic, “Gen Z” is attempting to implement their own personal management and communication skills, as they enter into the workforce. Whilst there are undeniably these negative perceptions of Gen Z, I would like to expose that this is not necessarily always the case in this Gen Z essay. As a Gen Z employee, I would beg to differ!

In support of Gen Z, Generational Expert, Ryan Jenkins has found that 72% of Gen Z - despite being the first fully digital generation - crave the ‘human element,’ they want to communicate face-to-face at work. He further discovered that 77% of Gen Z say they expect to work harder than previous generations. In spite of conflicting opinions, I strongly believe Gen Z is set to transform the future workplace in more ways than one.

This year I completed a Business Degree at the University of Technology and commenced my first full time role as an Account Executive at LIDA Australia. So as a member of Gen Z and a new member to the full-time grind, let me enlighten you on what really drives the youngest member of the workforce. For me, it is the human element - working with the people I love. Luckily LIDA is just the place for this.

If you’re working a 9-5 job, 5 days a week you’re most likely to spend more hours of the day with your work-mates than you do your family, flatmate or partner. A recent study by Communications Professor, Jeffrey Hall, found that making a casual friend takes 40-60 hours of your time, the transition from a casual friend to a friend is approximately between 80-100 hours and progression into the ‘good friend’ category can take up to 200 hours or more. This being said, there’s no surprises people form close bonds with their colleagues.

As a first-time, full-time employee, I know that getting to know new faces can be overwhelming, however establishing a strong relationship with my superiors and supporting colleagues is something I value over anything else. Everyday, my team ensures the time to explain ways of working that cannot be learnt through a simple google search, who are patient with my mistakes and constant questions and who are approachable, personable and supportive. They have very much become my good friends. After all I have been here for just over 552 hours.

Stereotypically placed in the box of smartphones and social media, in many cases it appears that Gen Z are a generation that value quite the opposite - an engaging workplace that encourages inclusiveness and positivity. Race, religion, sexual orientation and gender were the identifying characteristics of past generations, but not Gen Z. Growing up in a diverse, inclusive world, it’s all we’ve ever known.

For us open-minded Gen Zers, inclusive leaders are crucial. When everyone feels included, morale goes up, an environment of ingenuity is produced and a wealth of diverse knowledge enters the room. Everyone has to start somewhere, and for us inexperienced newcomers having our input listened too and considered despite our age, induces a sense of belonging. 

We’re entrepreneurial, independent, ambitious and run with the notion that more education leads to more opportunities!