The strengths and weaknesses of Gen Z

Different generations have different strengths and weaknesses.

Gen Z is good with tech, including artificial intelligence, and that is something they may need to help their older colleagues with.  

According to a recent survey conducted by a B2B outreach company Sopro, 93% of younger individuals between the ages of 16 to 29 have heard of AI, and 78% said they can explain it in some or complete detail. In contrast, 43% of people at least 70 years old had either never heard of AI or could not explain what it is at all. 

"Younger generations are more accustomed to using technology because it's what they have grown up with — they have never known the world in any other way," says Rob Harlow, chief innovation officer at Sopro. "And although technology can be difficult for everyone, older generations frequently find it considerably more daunting." 

Read more: Why it's up to Gen Z to lead the AI movement — especially at work

Still, Gen Z has a reputation for being lazy and disinterested in their careers, indicating there are areas where this cohort could improve professionally. Forty percent of business leaders believe that Gen Z is unprepared for the workforce, according to a survey from educational insights resource Intelligent.com. Additionally, 94% admitted to avoiding hiring recent grads. 

Part of this issue stems from the lack of professional development opportunities in remote and hybrid work settings. Gen Zers were generally born between 1997 and 2012 so the group ranges from children who are almost entering high school to those who have been in the workforce for a few years. 

For those from Gen Z who are already in the workforce, a significant portion of their careers has been done remotely due to the pandemic, meaning they have missed out on some experiences that only come with in-person interactions. 

"When the pandemic hit and people went home, people obviously did a good job," says Neil Costa, founder and CEO of recruitment marketing agency HireClix. "But I feel like we've hit the point since where you can tell that there's like a deficit now in employees that's starting to become obvious when we want young people to step up and accept more responsibility and they're missing certain things that were typically developed prior to the pandemic when we're all in the office." 

Read more: Remote work is stunting Gen Z's professional development

Besides influencing the professional development opportunities of Gen Z, COVID-19 has also affected their career aspirations. According to the National Society of High School Scholars, medicine and health-related fields are the most popular professional interests for upcoming talent. That's followed by engineering, science and government work, such as joining the CIA, the FBI, the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All of these inclinations are a direct result from some of the biggest cultural events they've faced from a global pandemic to the upcoming election. 

Additionally, 69% of Gen Z want to make enough money to live comfortably, according to data from workplace insights platform Statista, with 31% saying they want to make a positive impact on the world or their community — and the intersection of those two findings is what's really defining young talent. 

"We are all a product of the environment we are brought up in," says Jennifer Schielke, CEO and co-founder of Summit Group Solutions, a relationship-focused IT staffing and recruiting partner. "The bookends currently impressing Gen Z are COVID-19's impact in 2020 to the present and the uncertain and gloomy global economic forecast of the 2030s. There's no doubt what they've experienced is driving their steps and internal lenses." 

Read more: Gen Z's career motivations have evolved. Here's how