Move over Millennials, there’s a new workforce in town. For now, its members are being referred to as Gen Z, iGen, or Centennials, and they’re drafting cover letters and résumés as we speak. To prepare for their arrival in local offices, we spoke with Jeffrey Alstete, EdD, professor of management and business administration at the School of Business at Iona College, and Westchester-based human-resources consultant Greg Chartier, PhD, to get a better idea of what this burgeoning workforce is all about. —Nick Brandi
Chronology: Gen Z was born sometime in the mid-1990s.
Behavioral characteristics:
â– More cautious (e.g., less underage drinking, higher seat-belt use) and perhaps slightly more introverted than Gen Xers or Millennials
â– Less cynical, more accepting — culturally and otherwise — than their Gen X parents
â– 1st generation to be born with ubiquitous digital technology, so they deal in and expect shorter timeframes of action and reaction
Digital profile:
â– More private on social media (preferring Snapchat to Facebook)
â– Realistically accept their lack of cyberspace privacy and anonymity, so they are comparatively preoccupied with the appearance of their online profiles; want to look good, clean, on background checks.
Professional approach:
â– Not as tied to their college majors for their career tracks
â– Seek both job flexibility in assignments and job-growth potential
â– Less concerned with perks, dress codes, etc., than Millennials
â– Preoccupied with their ability to pay off student loans
â– More unisex/gender-neutral in their career paths
