Remember what it feels like to be starting out in your career? Nervous, curious, excited, hopeful…it can be overwhelming. And yet, students and recent grads have some pretty clear priorities.
Handshake’s research team conducts frequent surveys and produces Handshake Network Trends reports to reveal what’s top of mind for students and recent grads today. Use this data to update your talent attraction and retention strategies to make sure your opportunities will resonate with Gen Z job seekers.
6 things Gen Z wants from their next job
1. Stability and job security
- 70% of undergrads say job stability would make them more likely to apply to a job
- While 67% are confident they can find a job that builds their career, more than half are concerned about covering basic expenses
Stability and job security are top priorities for Gen Z. Finding a stable job is more important to this generation than salary and flexibility, and far more important than working for a fast-growing company, which only 17% of students prioritize. There’s also a trend toward applications to small businesses in the wake of layoffs in big tech and consulting, signaling a desire for stability, local impact, and flexible career growth.
2. Opportunities for skill building
- 87% say learning and development benefits are either important or essential when evaluating a job opportunity
- 63% say developing advanced skills in their field is essential to their definition of career success
Early talent is looking to learn and grow well after graduation. Of seniors who had a job lined up last year, 69% said the opportunity to develop their skills was one of the reasons they decided to commit to that particular opportunity. Students would find role-specific courses provided by their employer “very valuable.” Students also want employers to put money behind their commitment to their learning and development; 50% say tuition reimbursement is a “very valuable” L&D benefit.
Gen Z’s quest for financial security also influences their learning and development priorities, with 75% saying employers should provide financial literacy programs. Keep that in mind for recruiting events, onboarding experiences, and your L&D program for entry-level employees and beyond.
3. Location, location, location
- 73% are more likely to apply to a job that is in their desired location
- 69% say finding a job near family is a medium or high priority
- 81% want to work in-person for their first job after graduation
A majority of students consider cost of living (65% “very important”), community safety (61% “very important”), and ease of commuting (53% “very important”) when deciding whether to relocate for a job. Wanting to be close to family is often related to cost of living and financial security, particularly for students who plan to live with family after graduation. Learn more trends about where students are going after they graduate.
4. Benefits that sustain work-life balance
- 78% of undergrads say having a sustainable work-life balance is essential to their definition of career success
- 61% are worried about burnout once they start a professional career
Early career job seekers today are keen on jobs that offer benefits to help them balance work and life. For example, 72% say they wouldn’t take a job that didn’t offer paid leave and time off. Fortunately, more than 80% of jobs posted on Handshake offer time off as a benefit and job descriptions are trending toward mentioning mental health and employee wellbeing.
As far as financial health, 65% of students say they wouldn’t take a job that didn’t offer retirement benefits, and 65% of college seniors say an employer-provided student loan repayment benefit would increase their interest in a job. So your company can stand out by updating your benefits packages for early career employees in particular with thoughtful retirement plans and student loan support.
5. Values alignment
- 65% would not apply to a job if the employer’s values didn’t align with theirs
- 73% say doing work they're passionate about is essential to their definition of career success
Early career job seekers today care less about ping-pong tables and more about your company’s core values. Early talent today want to work somewhere they feel has a broader mission and purpose that aligns with their own values. And more than 70% say it’s at least moderately important that their employer has committed to making a positive impact on environmental, social, and governance issues.
6. Positive employer reputation
- 67% are more likely to apply to a job if the company has a positive reputation as an employer
- 75% read reviews of an employer before applying to a job
- 73% are more likely to apply to a job after seeing employer content
Gen Z job seekers turn to authentic voices and experiences to determine whether a brand’s reputation is positive or not. They're looking at video content, testimonials, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of workplace culture on social channels like the Handshake feed. Early talent also learns about employer reputation from their school career center and professors, as well as from sources with recent lived experience like former interns and alums.
Early talent is the future of work—attracting & retaining them is critical to your success
The college-to-career transition is a big shift for every generation. With openness to what Gen Z wants in their next job, you can attract and retain promising early talent and as they kick off their careers and shape the workforce of the future.