Gen Z now accounts for around 24% of the workforce, and that’s only going to increase over the coming years. The most diverse generation to enter the workforce, these digital natives require a unique approach to hiring, retention, and management. Gen Z is highly-educated, tech-savvy, and extraordinarily socially aware, and their passion and ambition offer employers a great opportunity for long-term business success. 

Career development is the top priority for this generation, and they lean heavily on their managers for support, instruction, and advancement.

A recent survey by Tallo, an online career advisory platform for younger professionals, showed that Gen Z is very interested in upskilling and reskilling opportunities. Respondents indicated they  are most interested in:

• Developing leadership skills such as communication, management, and critical thinking.

• Building technical skills such as those related to science, technology, engineering, software development, and design.

• Practicing agility through opportunities for collaboration, experimentation, and continuous learning.

• Learning new languages

If you’re not prioritizing the development of your young talent, you’re wasting an opportunity. By teaching them the company processes, culture, and mission, you’ll create a pipeline of employees ready and able to take your business to the next level.

Here are some of the best strategies for success:

1. Let them know part of learning includes learning from failure. Ask questions, instead of providing answers in the training process.

2. When you start with raw talent, you need to be patient and remind yourself they are starting from square one.

3. Because younger talent doesn’t have an established foundation, their training should be slower-paced and wider-ranging than when training a more experienced worker.

4. Capitalize on each employee’s strengths and give them assignments that challenge and motivate them to do their best work. If you spot weaknesses, offer them guidance.

5. Follow up with plenty of feedback for Generation Z. Giving regular feedback throughout the training is the best way to help them understand what the company wants to accomplish and how they contribute.

6. To find out if your training is yielding results, seek feedback from the employee’s coworkers. What strengths and weaknesses are they observing?

7. Look for the attributes that will contribute to a young employee being able to grow into a leadership role.  Look for traits like taking ownership of their work, involving other team members, or finding the time to help others with their projects.

Upskilling is an effective way to fill higher-level management positions, retain great employees, and future-proof your business.