Advice for Graduates
The opinion page in a local newspaper asked about advice for 2023 graduates.
One comment that stuck out to me said, “Stick with something that you are passionate about in your job. Do not job hop. Learn all you can from a mentor employer to help you learn and grow.”
I certainly agreed about the passionate part, and learning all you can from a mentor. However, not all organizations fuel passion in their employees. So, if you find yourself in an organization that does not help you to learn and grow, is it a reason to job hop? Absolutely.
This generation of graduates is not going to stick around organizations that don’t give them the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to advance. And the emphasis here is on learning and growing. Remember, they survived the pandemic which, for a period, stunted growth and opportunity.
That first piece of advice was countered by another comment that said, “I spent 10 years living and working at a profession that wasn’t satisfying [me] and my dream because I had tied myself to people that didn’t support me. Don’t get tied down to something or people that hold you back.”
Right on! This commentator clearly wasted time working in an organization, and in a job, that didn’t feed their passion. Their key point was that they lacked support from the people around them, people who didn’t take an interest in them.
How about some advice for employers and managers about what this generation of graduates want.
According to Laura Coccaro, iCIMS’ chief people officer, they place a high value on salary transparency. They want to know before applying for a job what the salary range is. This isn’t so much about the amount of pay, but rather it’s about stability. And this is especially true for women and other underrepresented groups.
They are also looking for employers to help champion their quality of life holistically—financial advisory programs, student loan repayment, mental health support and more.
No, these grads are not needy. They are entering a work world full of uncertainty. Want to create a positive employee experience for Gen Z graduates? All of the following tie directly to retention for your organization:
Enhance work/life balance—a top priority when this generation evaluates job opportunities
Foster inclusivity—team work, open communication, diversity and inclusion
Provide opportunities for growth and development—don’t forget mentorships and clear career path progression
Emphasize purpose and impact—they are passionate about making a difference
Leverage technology for this generation accustomed to working with it
My favorite piece of advice to the 2023 grads: “The best thing you can give the world is your very own creative energy.”
Employers, if you foster positive and inclusive cultures, you will benefit from this generation’s creative energy that they are eager to share.