Generation Z is becoming a relatively large population in our country, including the ASEAN region, and will become the main force of the future workforce.
Generation Z is a group of people born between 1996-2009 and are between the ages of 9 and 24. They were born in an era full of technology and rapid change. They are bold, like to show off, and have high confidence. However, they have low patience. This is a problem that makes this generation be seen as not patient or determined enough.
“If we understand Gen Z better, working and living with them will be easier.”
Because time moves forward without turning back, what came before has expired with time, leaving behind only traces, even though some of them will fade away with time as well. What has just happened has the right to choose whether to follow the original traces that were left behind, to use those traces as the spark that sparks something new, or to choose to create new traces on its own.
Admin is talking about people because people in each generation have similarities that are passed down and differences in the paths that people in each generation choose for themselves.
“When we were 16, what were we doing?”
Try to think back to when we were 16. What was our life like then? The clothes we wore, the places we’ve been to, or what was the most important thing to us at that time? For some people, it might be following fashion trends that come and go quickly then, or taking a motorcycle driving test. Whoever passes the test looks the coolest in the class, etc. Do 16-year-olds now do the same things we do, like the same things we did when we were 16?
“Millennials are the group that’s getting attention.”
In recent years, the world has been focusing on understanding and embracing Millennials, the largest and most educated generation in history – those born between 1981 and 1990 – who are sparking important dialogues about generational differences, posing challenges to the world of work to get their needs met, and rethinking class hierarchies.
“People of each generation are classified by the events that have happened, rather than by the date they came into the world.”
It is impossible to describe individual characteristics by analyzing generations, because people are so different on so many levels, which are influenced by many factors. For example, race, religion, economics, or society shape the way people see the world in different ways. The key to understanding each other better is to classify generations by the events that happened to them, not the day they were born.
The beginning and entry of Generation Z
Gen Z refers to people born between 1996 and 2009. September 1996 was a time when terrorism, school shootings, and the Great Recession were all happening. Those horrific events had a profound effect on the behavior of Gen Z, but they also ignited their desire to change the world, which had implications for the future of the world.
The most important thing is not to say that Gen Z is the most important now (because every generation is equally important), but to find ways to live together and cooperate to change the world for the best. Therefore, we should get familiar with and understand the characteristics of Gen Z in the following 10 important matters.
1. Gen Z – They want to know the results they are achieving.
They are willing to do anything in their path to win because we grew up in a competitive sports culture. They are used to knowing the results immediately, so they often get frustrated or resentful if they have to wait for the results after a long time after a game or test. It could be said that Gen Z is the most competitive society in history.
“Sometimes we see other people’s success as our own failure, or their failure as our success.”
2. Gen Z – The issue of inheriting traits from Millennials
Every generation is defined by their family or environment. This is why lumping Millennials and Gen Z together might be a mistake, but in reality, it’s bound to happen anyway. They still share some similarities in behaviors that are a result of their environment, but these similarities are minor. Unlike Millennials, who have inherited many of Generation X and Baby Boomers’ traits.
“Even though they are of similar ages, it doesn’t mean they have the same beliefs.”
3. Gen Z – They are interested in finance.
Over the past 15 to 20 years, many HR departments have been searching for what exactly motivates their employees to be productive. Studies have shown that workplace engagement is less important to Gen Z than it was to previous generations.
With two-thirds of Gen Z wanting a job that offers financial security (focused primarily on money) over an easy one, part of the reason for this focus on finances (income) may be due to witnessing the struggles their parents faced in the working world: in 2008, Gen X lost 45% of their wealth during the Great Recession.
“Gen Z are practitioners who work primarily to make a living rather than searching for meaning in life.”
4. Gen Z – They are interested in becoming entrepreneurs.
Even though they’ve watched their parents struggle with financial challenges and felt the effects of the worst economic collapse since the Great Depression, the survey found that 58% of Gen Z want to own their own business in the future, and 14% already own their own. And we’ve also seen how technology is being leveraged to create exciting and lucrative business opportunities at relatively low cost.
“Gen Z believes that if they have a lot of money, they can create their own economy.”
5. Gen Z – They are connected both online and offline.
Before Gen Z was given its official name, there were a few other names in the running, such as the Selfie Generation or iGen. These names were all misleading, leading to the common misconception that Gen Z was tied to technology. But the truth is, they still need face-to-face conversations, as empathy, interest and care are best received in person.
“Working successfully with Generation Z requires a balance between face-to-face conversation and online engagement.”
6. Gen Z – They want interaction
Because they value face-to-face interactions, even though they are the type of people who don’t need much support from others, they still want to feel grateful when someone praises them for a job well done. These little things will encourage Gen Z to work hard and work harder to receive more praise next time. In addition, Gen Z is the type who will work very hard when there is a deadline.
“The emotional experience of childhood competition leads to a yearning for validation to tell yourself that you did your best.”
7. Gen Z – They like to work independently.
Millennials love collaborative work environments, with many workplaces eliminating offices and reducing walls to encourage more interaction. However, Gen Z has different needs than Millennials, and they often prefer to work in more private environments. A calm, private workplace is where Gen Z can maximize their competitive potential.
“In the future, we may see workplaces that offer more privacy to employees, rather than encouraging them to work together.”
8. Gen Z – They are so diverse that we can’t even identify them.
Internationally, for example, Gen Z is the last generation in U.S. history where the population is predominantly white. Given the country’s changing demographics, they don’t care as much about someone’s skin color, religion or sexual orientation as older generations did. A diverse population is the norm. What we care most about in others is honesty, sincerity and, perhaps most importantly, competence.
“Difference is not something to be defined or divided. It is the ability that should be of interest.”
9. Gen Z – They are willing and ready to change.
Political turmoil is what inspires us to evolve even more to create change, no matter which side of the fence we’re on. Most of us just need to focus on making a difference in society, like the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., who mobilized to take part in a political movement on gun control after a shooting at their school, or the teenagers who are campaigning and advocating for marine debris.
“We have to make a difference, no matter what the impact is on us.”
10. Gen Z – They want to be involved.
Gen Z seeks jobs that allow them to contribute, lead, and learn. One of the best ways to work with them is to ask them for their input and listen to them, as they have an incredible ability to gather information, process information, and act on it.
“When we allow them to share their ideas, great things happen.”
Conclusion
Because the world is moving forward rapidly, many generations are becoming drivers that will create changes for the world in a better direction. Therefore, don’t let age become a gap that creates misunderstanding between each other.
Everyone is different, has a variety of unique personalities that are the result of the environment that frames people in each generation. These things make everyone special in their differences. And these differences, when combined, can create constructive change. Because if we are all the same, there will be no change. Therefore, we must understand and accept each other’s differences without discrimination in order to create positive changes in this world.
“The important thing is, no matter what we do, let’s remember that there are still generations to come after us.”
