They hate hustle but need a job—a CEO’s advice for an ‘unemployable’ Gen Z
There’s a stark divide between what Gen Z values and what hiring managers are actually looking for.
my team Being You Laboratories We recently conducted a study using our value assessment tool, Bridge of ValuesRanking 16 values using 100 behavioral questions. More than 77,000 people have received this drug since May. We then cross-referenced the research with a national survey of 2,100 hiring managers from industries such as technology, consulting, banking and professional services. (Read more about our research Here.)
The disconnect was clear and stark: Generation Z’s top three values are self-care, authentic self-expression, and helping people. People who hire them are looking for employees who value success, learning and hard work. When you compare the two studies, you see that only 2% of Generation Z shares their boss’s priorities.
In response to the findings, one CEO said: “This explains exactly why we’re not hiring.” One hospital administrator put it more bluntly: “Now we’re hiring two or three new doctors to replace one doctor who retired. They tell us we shouldn’t expect them to work hard because life as a cardiologist isn’t what it used to be.”
One HR head summed up all the comments with these words: “This is crazy. And validating.”
Generation Z’s reaction? It’s completely different. A recent graduate on TikTok: “Why would we want to live by Boomer values when Boomer values are destroying the world?” Another added: “Old people hate young people because our lives show that their lives are wasted. I won’t be wishing on my deathbed that I worked harder.”
The intensity of the debate did not surprise me. I watched this conflict unfold in classrooms and boardrooms for years. Companies are disappointed. Young people are disappointed. And you loom over everything? Artificial intelligence threatens to replace several entry-level jobs that Gen Zers are already struggling to achieve.
Given this context, what is “unemployed” (as someone) WSJ headline (put) Does the Zer generation have to do it? No one wants to suppress their own values, and this is understandable. But most people cannot remain unemployed. Is there a path forward for the 98% of Generation Z who place self-care, authenticity, and sacrifice above company success and career drive?
Here’s my advice to the vast majority of Gen Zers who are probably stuck in what seems like an untenable place.
1. Confront your appreciation of wealth
When I teach my class “Being You” At NYU Stern School of Business, I don’t allow students to self-report when it comes to their desire for wealth. The reason is simple: People rarely tell the truth about their relationship with money—to themselves and to others—because the desire to get rich is considered slightly stinky.
But you can’t make sustainable career decisions without being honest about the number in your head. So the amount of money you want and need, “That’s enough.” It could be “one good holiday a year”, as one student said, or “one private helicopter per child”, as another admitted.
My research shows that 42% of Gen Zers have well-being in the top five values, 35% see it as a mid-range value, and 23% have it in the bottom five values.
Once you know where prosperity ranks for you, you can make more careful choices about whether to drag yourself into the 2%. After all, even if self-care is the highest value, if wealth is close behind, something has to give. On the other hand, if wealth is ranked 10th or even 16th, a completely different world of work enters your realm of possibilities.
2. Join or start a company that aligns with your values
If you don’t want to suppress your values, your best strategy is to find a company that supports what you already have.
Keep your eyes open for published lists of businesses said to support employee well-being, authenticity and reward. Just know that these companies often attract job seekers like magnets. If you apply to one of these, make sure you level up with an excellent cover letter and a top-notch resume.
Then there is entrepreneurship. As someone who has been a founder twice myself, I know how challenging this can be. But if you have the right idea, fit for the market and with the durability to match, creating your own workplace culture is the surest way to live by your values.
3. Make a ten-year agreement with yourself
I rarely suggest that people try to change their values. It’s like changing your personality; usually does not stick. But if getting a job is an immediate priority and well-being is long-term, you may choose to suppress your desire for well-being, balance, and true self-expression for a while and embrace achievement and work-centeredness.
In other words, act like the Boomers and say hello to delayed gratification.
But my warning is this: If you follow this strategy, don’t try and appeal your decision every day. Make a commitment instead. And commit long enough to see results. I recommend a full ten years. Overnight success is a myth even for the 2%.
How committed you are to your values is one of the most personal and important choices you will ever make. This choice can shape your income, your sense of purpose, and the trajectory of your career. Approach it not with panic or resignation, but with the wisdom of your years; the many years you have already lived and the many years ahead of you.
Suzy Welch an award-winning NYU Stern School of Business professoracclaimed researcher, popular podcaster, and three-time NYT bestselling author, latest “Being You: A Proven Way to Build Your Authentic Life and CareerA graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Business School, Dr. Welch is a frequent guest on the Today Show and a columnist for the Wall Street Journal. He serves on the boards of public and private companies and NYU | He is Director of Purpose and Development for the Stern Initiative.
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