Gen-Z: Salary expectations too high, apply directly for senior positions
Even for the sought-after Gen-Z junior staff, applications are probably no picnic: 74 percent were ignored by companies in the middle of the application process
(Image: fizkes/Shutterstock.com)
Although Generation Z young professionals are considered to be particularly sought-after, according to a survey by the job portal Jobteaser, many have experienced companies not contacting them once the application process has begun. According to the study, which was made available to the iX editorial team, around three quarters were affected by so-called ghosting by recruiters. According to Jobteaser, 52 percent of recruiters admitted to having ghosted candidates.
Decisive factors in whether young people between 18 and 30 accept a job offer are above all salary transparency (49 percent), a fast application process (43 percent), which takes no longer than 21 days, and a clear recruitment process (39 percent). According to the results, companies that want to secure the next generation of talent should not ignore personal contact during the process: The main factor for abandoning the application process, at 45 percent, is namely the lack of proximity to the recruiter.
Discriminated against or unqualified?
Every second junior employee has also felt discriminated against in the application process, particularly on the basis of age (35 percent), ethnicity (31 percent) or gender (31 percent). For recruiters, on the other hand, it is often difficult to find young talent that meets the requirements of the advertised positions. For example, newcomers would apply for senior positions or salary demands would be too high, leading to rejection. 55% of HR managers complained about the lack of qualified applications and 46% about excessive salary demands.
According to the survey, generative AI is a natural tool for Gen-Z applicants – 72% used ChatGPT and co. to create and optimize cover letters and CVs or to prepare for job interviews. On the HR side, 40 percent used AI tools, primarily for replying to emails or screening CVs.
Overall, both young people and HR managers were optimistic about the career opportunities of the generation that is now finding its way into the job market. 73% of students and graduates aged between 18 and 30 are confident that their own education will open up opportunities in various sectors. 84 percent of the HR professionals surveyed considered the market for prospective employees to be favorable. According to Jobreach, 1220 students and young professionals as well as 726 HR managers in Germany were surveyed.
(axk)