Why Gen Z Chooses Healthcare Over Tech: A Recruiting Blueprint
A recent study at the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) has revealed a profound shift in career aspirations among younger professionals, with 3 out of 4 young Americans (Gen Z) now choosing the essential and purpose-driven world of healthcare over high-tech jobs. This isn't just a trend, it's a wake-up call for industries challenged with workforce instability, the rise of automation, and shifting generational priorities.
To explore this phenomenon more deeply, I interviewed four exceptional people and future healthcare leaders, who graduated from Cornell University's Sloan Master's in Health Administration program. Through their insights, we gain a richer understanding of what fuels this generational realignment and how other industries should consider adapting to remain relevant for an employee that knows what they want, how they want it.
Redefining a Meaningful Career
The pursuit of meaningful work was a common thread during our discussion. For Keshaav Krishnaa Pothapur, an incoming administrative fellow at Boston Medical Center, "a meaningful career is at the intersection of empathy and impact." Having started his career as a dentist, he quickly realized the limitations of addressing individual care and pivoted toward roles where he could influence systems and communities on a larger scale. 'There are more things to fix than people's teeth,' he remarked, underscoring the draw of systems-level change and his drive to make the healthcare experience more compassionate and effective.
Similarly, Lesly Leon, bound for an administrative fellowship at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California, emphasized the duality of personal and community growth in a meaningful career. Growing up in underserved communities, Lesly experienced first-hand the challenges of accessing quality care. Her values now inform her mission to work within healthcare to improve equity and uplift populations facing similar barriers. 'Healthcare allows me to give back to the communities that shaped me,' she shared, connecting her personal experiences to her professional ambitions.
Natalie Stopfer, who transitioned from a career as a behavioral health nurse to now, an Associate Consultant at Chartis noted the personal motivation of meaningful work. 'I always wanted to help people, even as a kid when I stocked my desk with band-aids to help classmates,' Natalie shared with a laugh. But her career isn't just about fulfilling childhood dreams, it's about finding joy and excitement in her work every day. For Natalie, a meaningful career is one that nourishes self-growth while also enabling her to improve patient care systems at a macro level.
Deevena Annavarjula, manager of value-based care at Boston Medical Center, views meaningful work as engaging with the idea of evolution. 'Our work life takes up so much of our time. It has to be something we get excited about.' Balancing personal fulfillment with professional purpose, she is highly self-aware and mindful of carefully assessing and pivoting whenever workplace environments fail to align with her values. Her confidence in evolving roles and industries is a testament to Gen Z's innovative approach to career satisfaction.
Stability in Healthcare Is About More Than Job Security
Traditional notions of stability, holding one job at one company for the entirety of a career, are a thing of the past for Gen Z. Lesly noted that while healthcare offers career stability through essential, purpose-driven work, 'there can often be a disconnect between expectation and reality,' particularly regarding the emotional toll of the job. Having witnessed her own mother's struggle to access adequate care, Lesly believes that reshaping healthcare to be more equitable will not only meet societal needs but also provide new generations of healthcare professionals with fulfilling roles that endure.
This contrasts sharply with the instability affecting tech industries. Companies like Amazon have publicly acknowledged how AI advancements are leading to significant job cuts, creating anxiety among employees about their future roles. Amazon's own CEO Andy Jassy recognized that automation is reshaping the workforce, drawing critical attention to the growing gap in job stability in the tech sector. For healthcare professionals, such turbulence in other industries underscores the appeal of a field rooted not just in purpose but also in necessity.
Deevena took the concept further, explaining that for her, stability stems from adaptability. 'It's not about staying in one job for 40 years anymore. What matters is knowing you can find your place at every phase of your career.' For her, life transitions, including moving from the insurance industry to hospitals and continuously applying skills in new ways are part of what keeps her engaged. This mindset reflects a broader trend amongst younger professionals seeing stability not as rigidity but as flexibility to grow and thrive in dynamic environments.
Keshaav added another dimension by tying adaptability to the evolving innovation in healthcare. He noted that the pandemic catalyzed a shift in how healthcare is viewed, moving it from being a reactive system to one that embraces innovation. 'Tech is powerful, but healthcare is essential,' Keshaav stated. For younger professionals, stability goes beyond a steady paycheck to include opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge solutions, such as predictive algorithms and AI, which are reshaping care research and care delivery.
Gen Z Is Reshaping Mentorship Dynamics
One of the most striking insights from the panel was their take on mentorship. Traditionally viewed as a one-way relationship, Gen Z professionals no longer see mentors solely as providers of wisdom. Instead, mentorship has evolved into a dynamic, two-way exchange.
'Having a mentor is like having your own Google Translate for workplace jargon,' Keshaav explained, emphasizing the role mentors play in decoding the complexities of healthcare for new professionals. However, mentors also learn from their mentees. As Deevena pointed out, 'This isn't the first time healthcare has faced significant changes. Mentors help us see how challenges were addressed in the past while we offer fresh ideas for navigating today's transitions.'
Lesly underscored the importance of understanding traditional structures while working toward necessary changes. 'Mentorship is a collaborative process. Even when there's a gap between generations, there's always an opportunity to learn from one another.' For Natalie, her mentors helped repurpose her clinical nursing experience to improve healthcare systems at a higher, strategic level. These dynamic relationships enrich both generations by bridging experience with innovation.
Lessons for Other Industries
If healthcare has become a destination for young professionals seeking purpose and stability, what can other industries learn from this shift? The answer lies in fostering environments where connections are meaningful, opportunities for growth are abundant, and individual values and beliefs are honored.
Industries like tech, currently grappling with AI-driven workforce reductions, such as the cuts Amazon has disclosed, would do well to adopt some of Keshaav, Lesly, Deevena and Natalie's insights.
A Call to Action for Leaders Everywhere
The stories shared by these future healthcare leaders with a path forward, not just for hospitals, but for any organization striving to attract and retain Gen Z talent. Industries must evolve from transactional workplaces to environments that are transformational for both the individual and society.
With this in mind, here are five key imperatives leaders need to act on today:
A Future Built on Purpose and Community
If industries like tech and beyond hope to remain competitive, they must ask themselves hard questions. Are they creating environments where young professionals can challenge norms, grow their skills, and thrive despite technological disruption? Are they actively aligning workplace values with the aspirations of the workforce? Without these considerations, all industries risk alienating a generation that sees purpose not as an option, but as a norm. The future belongs to sectors and leaders brave enough to prioritize innovation, purpose, and community for a Gen Z workforce that knows what they want.
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This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
