Like it or love it, Generation Z is the future. But the social media generation might have a few advantages that could make them the best apprentices.
When your company’s workload begins to pile up and you need an extra pair of hands on a project, there are a few avenues you can take. You can hire a freelancer, get in touch with a contractor, or spend every waking moment working on things yourself (not a great option).
However, one of the best ways to build your business the way you want is to bring on and train an apprentice.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for businesses to gain productive, enthusiastic workers while also investing in developing skilled employees. As well as having the financial benefit of low staff costs, they provide a great source of energy and fresh ideas.
The government also offers some level of support in the form of the Apprenticeship Levy, which helps businesses fund apprentices with the aim of supporting quality training with employers at the centre. Though this initiative hasn’t quite hit the mark as a solution to the issues that come with apprenticeships.
If you’re looking to hire an apprentice, Generation Z (Gen Z) is your hunting ground; they make up the vast majority of apprenticeships candidates today. Don’t be fooled into thinking they spend all their time glued to their phones, though; Gen Z is a vein of untapped potential.
What is Gen Z?
People often lump everyone under thirty in a category called ‘Millennials’, but this isn’t technically correct.
Millennials are categorised as those born between 1981 and 1994, making them 22-37 years of age today. This makes Gen Z – those born after 1995 – the workforce of tomorrow, so it’s important you know who they are and what drives them. There are quite a few benefits when it comes to hiring a Gen Z apprentice:
Tech savvy
Whereas Millennials grew up in the digital age, Gen Z was born into it. And, while it might be tempting for some to bellyache about them being glued to their smartphones, Gen Z’s technophilia comes with a useful side effect; they can easily wrap their heads around new technology.
With every industry in the world investing in and incorporating the latest technology, Gen Z apprentices are able to integrate into this aspect of their role effortlessly.
Masters of multitasking
When kids have grown up following a YouTube tutorial as they Facetime a friend while doing some online shopping, is it any surprise that they are skilled at multitasking? Whether they are posting, commenting or swiping, Gen Z has adapted to handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
This ingrained skill is adaptable to almost any work environment, meaning you’ll have no trouble putting this to good use.
Short attention span
Gen Z is constantly absorbing information, often in the blink of an eye. Spending their youth surrounded by apps such as Snapchat and Instagram has made receiving constant updates the norm, which has ultimately stunted their attention spans.
This has, however, given Gen Z an advantage when it comes to absorbing information. As they’re accustomed to receiving a barrage of updates, Gen Z has a knack for processing information faster than other generations and are highly adaptable to change.
Entrepreneurial thinkers
Gen Z has grown up in a world of innovation, full of developing technology and connected to every corner of the globe. They’ve seen what’s possible and want a piece of the action for themselves.
This has resulted in a generation of young adults who are starting their careers with an entrepreneurial head on their shoulders. They are full of ideas, so use them before someone else does.
Take your business into the next generation
Gen Z has an advantage over older generations, simply due to how they have been raised in the digital age. By being familiar with new technology, expert multitaskers, and full of fresh ideas they are in a great position to become an asset to your business. Plus, as they are quick at absorbing new information, they are ideal candidates for training courses to help them develop further.
Ryan Latham, Senior Marketing Executive for 3B Training, has experienced first-hand how businesses can benefit from hiring a Gen Z apprentice: “As a former apprentice myself, I am definitely on board with the system, it’s a great opportunity to get on the first step of your career ladder.
“We also have a Gen Z apprentice working under me in our Marketing department and she has been highly beneficial. She is highly tech-savvy and has actually taught me a thing or two about newer social platforms. She can complete tasks almost twice as fast as I can and to a great standard, so don’t write off Generation Z.”
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