As we are still struggling to understand millennials, why don’t we start to be invested in the upcoming generation? Yes, Generation Z (born between 1994 and 2010). This year, Gen Z is a major target for companies who are looking to recruit interns. Shaped by technology, this generation is lauded as more educated, connected and sophisticated than any generation that has come before.
With anxious ambition to make a difference in the word and workforce, the oldest of this generation are starting to enter the workplace as college interns. As such, companies looking to recruit and retain top Generation Z talent can use these tips to create internship programs that closely with their values and entrepreneurial spirit.
With entrepreneurial rates well above the dot.com bubble of 15 years ago, the resurgence in the entrepreneurial spirit only grows with each new generation, given their access to an unlimited supply of information, resources and mentors via the Internet at a younger age. This idea holds true for Gen Z.
This generation has a strong desire to not only start their own company but also invent something that will change the world. During their internship, empower them to do a little of both as “intrapreneurs.”
Business leaders know that adding more intrapreneurs to the roster is crucial for any company to survive, stay relevant and achieve long-term growth. An “intrapreneurship” is the perfect way to attract, develop and maintain Gen Zs’ entrepreneurial spirit within your company.
Let them work on projects that make a difference during their intrapreneurship. Develop initiatives that allow them to cross-team with peers to deliver projects directly tied to the success of the company, like solving a department revenue challenge, building a new product or idea from the ground up or identifying new areas of growth.
Innovation will be your reward for supporting and building an interdisciplinary team of entrepreneurial-minded Gen Zs who are focused on driving meaningful business consequences.
Empowering Gen Zs to produce meaningful innovation starts with providing the right structure and tools to support their work style, communication needs and continued learning preferences. Here’s a cheat sheet on how to best support intrapreneurial teamwork.
They are deeply interested in saving money. As such, this generation is more likely to accept a paid or stipend internship over one that’s unpaid. However, if a paid internship isn’t an option for your company, employers will need to emphasise other enticing aspects of an internship that resonate with this unique generation.
For example, they are motivated the most by opportunities for advancement and also motivated the most by meaningful work. Therefore, clearly defining a path that Gen Zs can take to attain a job within your company or sharing insight on the rate at which interns are hired is an attractive benefit to highlight.
Gen Zs are also highly motivated by the chance to give back. Provide their interest by highlighting company-wide charitable programs or volunteer projects to which they can lead or become involved.
Adjusting the workplace to bring the best out of a new, different generation like Gen Z is no easy task. But by spending some time to understand how they live, what they value and which ways they communicate can help set up your future workforce for success. Are you ready to hire generation Z as interns?
See: What to expect in managing a Gen-Y and Gen-Z?
The original article first appeared on Entrepreneur.