Roanoke, VA – Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club (ALC) members seeking workers in 2023 should change their method of reaching younger candidates, according to a speaker at the club’s recent meeting.
Toye Oshoniyi, commercial risk advisor with Dominion Risk Advisors in Roanoke, VA, spoke about the latest generation of adults entering the workforce. Generation Z are people who were born from 1997 to 2012.
Employers need to understand the group is different from previous generations, he said.
Gen Z employees have grown up with the constant development of technology and the internet.
Oshoniyi said this makes Gen Z more adaptable and open to change in the workplace. They are often able to learn new methods of completing tasks than older generations.
He used a mock interview video that stereotyped the typical interaction between a Gen Z applicant and a Baby Boom generation employer. While poking fun, it did characterize the different thinking of the two groups.
Gen Z has a shorter attention span than previous generations because they absorb a continuous flow of content on the internet, affecting how they process information. Oshoniyi said studies show the span is approximately 8 seconds. He said it affects the way they handle various tasks at work.
Millennials, those born between 1981 to 1996, have a somewhat longer attention span and can discipline themselves when getting jobs done. He noted that millennials are more collaborative and build more connections at work and Gen Z is more resourceful and tech-savvy.
Studies have shown that Gen Z workers want their time and effort to have an impact on whatever task they do. They often want to know what exactly is expected from them at work and how it affects the company.
Oshoniyi encouraged employers to use social media to educate and attract new employees. He said simple methods can have positive results.
The next meeting of the Club is the Spring Beach Meeting on May 4-7 at the Avista Resort in North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Registration is available at www.lumberclub.org.
