Australian recruiter reveals brutal new Gen Z hiring trend
Tammie Christofis Ballis, specialist recruiter and career coach at Realistic Careers, referenced these concerns in a recent TikTok video.
She revealed that she has been getting 'a lot of feedback' from employers who don't want to hire people under 30 because 'the ones that are over 30 have a better work ethic'.
'I am just saying what is happening at the moment. I don't believe all young people are lazy and have a bad work ethic,' she said in the clip.
Speaking to news.com.au, Ms Ballis said common complaints she is hearing from hiring managers include that younger workers are harder to train, don't respect punctuality and perceive critical feedback as 'bullying'.
In the comment section of the video, people were certainly divided on the topic.
One commenter revealed their company uses a hiring agency and they now try to avoid employing younger people.
'We are very relaxed with our expectations (it's literally pick/pack work) but they are just so slow, lazy and lack the ability to think for themselves, and most won't work a full week,' they wrote.
Another person agreed, claiming to have seen Gen Z workers exhibit these traits first-hand, adding, 'I would hire older where I could'.
One person wrote: 'We had a 26yo in our office that would call in sick or turn up late every second week with the reasons 'I didn't sleep well, I didn't hear my alarm, my phone battery was dead'. He was a good kid that picked up the skills quickly but he was so unreliable.'
Another commenter chimed in, saying they didn't want to hire people below the age of 30 because 'there is so much drama'.
However, plenty of people were quick to defend younger workers, with many pointing out that these are the same complaints that have faced every generation when entering the workforce.
'That's just sour old Boomers that think that. I think there's good and bad in both, it's nothing to do with age,' one person said.
Others claimed that the older generations just didn't like that Gen Z workers weren't allowing themselves to be exploited at work and instead value work-life balance.
'We can't afford to live, buy houses and pay groceries and get other bills and we also don't tolerate abusive behaviour either,' one commenter said.
'I'll work weekends, longer hours when the culture and pay is good and reasonable (which I have). But this generation will hold employers accountable for toxic work environments.'
Multiple people shared that they have actually had the opposite experience to the one shared in the video, stating that Gen Z are some of the most hardworking employees they have.
In her job as a recruiter and career coach, Ms Ballis interacts with a lot of young people looking for jobs.
She said she can see both sides of the argument, saying that it really depends on the individual.
However, she does believe some Gen Zers are being misguided by their parents and teachers about the 'harsh realities of the job market'.
'For example, many who are going to university to study believe that they're at a higher position than those who don't complete a degree. This is absolutely false,' she said.
'They still have to start from the bottom and work their way up. Practical on the job skills are extremely important and many don't have that skill set when they leave university.'
One mistake Ms Ballis continually sees Gen Zers make when entering the job market is applying for roles where they don't have the required experience.
Again, this is often the result of people assuming they are qualified because of their degree or certifications, despite lacking practical experience.
The recruiter also believes the rise of AI and the depletion of corporate support and customer service roles within larger companies is going to make it harder for Gen Z and other generations to get into the job market.
'I would suggest that they should focus on professions where people skills and human nuance is needed,' Ms Ballis said.
The recruiter added that they don't have to just focus on landing a 'dream job'.
'They can work a job where it supports their lifestyle, and to work on their dreams on the weekend,' she said.
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