The Gen Z job-seeking 'revolution'

Without a polished CV or boasting about her qualifications, Phuong Nhi posted a 50-word job search ad on social media and attracted 10,000 views.

The 27-year-old woman from Hanoi said she started using Threads – Meta's social network launched in 2023 – a few months ago. Recently, Nhi noticed a trend of job searching on the platform, so she decided to give it a try.

She works for an airline, but because she's trendy, she still wants to find a different, more vibrant and youthful work environment.

Phuong Nhi, 27, who works for an airline, is still looking for new job opportunities. Photo: Provided by the subject.

Realizing that Threads was becoming a "job hub," on April 12th, 25-year-old Hoang Nam from Ho Chi Minh City decided to "put himself up for sale." In his 70-word post, Nam provided three basic pieces of information: applying for the position of UX/UI Designer (user interface and experience design), a link to his application, and contact information.

"My friend boasted about finding a great job here, so I wanted to give it a try," Nam said.

Many employers are also catching on to this trend. "I heard Threads is a very effective recruitment platform, I hope we can find each other soon," wrote Be Hoang Mai, the owner of a chain of fashion shops in Hanoi, in a post on April 13th.

The businesswoman said she was preparing to open a new store on Ba Trieu Street and needed to hire sales staff. Mai's friends found the staff through this method much faster and more efficiently than other methods. "On other social media platforms, you have to run ads to find candidates, but here, I posted and within a few hours I received 5 applications," Mai said.

But recruiters also say that most of the applicants here are Gen Z.

According to a report by McKinsey & Company, half of Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) will begin joining the workforce, accounting for a quarter of the global workforce by 2023. As the digital generation, they grew up with technology and the internet, electronic devices, and the explosion of social media. They are quick to adapt to the world , instantly connecting with cultures, issues, and news compared to previous generations.

"They are also revolutionizing recruitment," said Bui Doan Chung, founder of the Vietnam Human Resources Profession community.

According to him, Gen Z currently accounts for about one-third of the workforce in Vietnam. They are more dynamic and proactive in approaching employers and often use unconventional application styles or reject requirements regarding the format and content of application documents.

First, we see them proactively seeking job opportunities. Instead of searching for jobs through traditional channels and internal networks, they are adopting a multi-channel approach across various social media platforms.

"Using social media can help job seekers find jobs more quickly and proactively, get closer to employers, and can also partially verify the credibility of employers posting job ads," said Trang Nguyen, Northern Region Recruitment Manager of a media company and owner of the podcast channel The Workaholics , which specializes in sharing information about jobs and recruitment.

Nguyen Huyen Hao, CEO of a headhunter company in Hanoi, added that the proactive approach to job searching among young people compared to previous generations is partly due to their shorter job stays and their tendency to seek multiple job opportunities simultaneously, thus avoiding dependence on a single source of income or specific job.

"I've met young people who work full-time at one company but then work part-time or remotely for another company," Hao said.

A Gen Z in Hanoi is searching for job postings on Threads on April 13th. Photo: Phan Duong

Secondly, showcasing qualifications and summarizing work experience in a CV has been a practice for job seekers since around 1950. Gen Z is gradually changing this approach by directly showcasing their skills.

For example, Duc Anh, 23, from Hanoi, shared a short video showcasing his skills on TikTok last year after graduating and unexpectedly received dozens of job offers.

The young man recently quit his job at a non-governmental organization. Besides traditional job-seeking methods, he's also considering new approaches. "I'll try selling myself online in the next few days," Duc Anh said.

A 2023 report by global talent recruitment firm Randstad revealed that 43% of young people aged 18-24 struggle to find jobs due to barriers such as a lack of "relevant experience," and 63% have problems with traditional CVs, believing they don't allow them to showcase their best selves.

According to Randstad, this is not surprising, as traditional application processes are often laborious and don't allow a person's true personality and skills to shine. Through social networks, it's possible to build a diverse workforce, simplify the application process, and remove barriers.

Thirdly, when searching for jobs on social media, workers can use more familiar, friendly, and playful language. "This makes the serious process of job searching and interviewing feel more relaxed and natural," Trang Nguyen said. This reality requires companies wanting to attract Gen Z workers to change their recruitment methods and also find ways to highlight the company's values ​​and benefits.

However, applying is only a small step in the overall talent acquisition process. Many large and reputable companies still have their own rules that candidates must follow. And according to Mr. Chung, rushing the recruitment process has never been effective.

Short job postings often mean incomplete information about the employer. This also increases the risk of job scams or other unethical practices, such as collecting user data instead of actually hiring.

"Because social media is free and information is often incomplete, many people have been scammed into paying money and losing it due to a lack of thorough research," Mr. Chung warned.

Expert Huyen Hao also stated that Threads is attracting young people. However, recruitment on this platform is usually for low-level positions, collaborators, interns, freelancers, and the recruiting companies are often small companies or startups that lack the high level of credibility, seriousness, and professionalism of other platforms.

Phuong Nhi also noticed this after a few days of posting. Although the post reached 10,000 views, she only received a few job offers. Moreover, she realized that these were all jobs that were very unsuitable for her experience.

"I think I should just showcase the skills I already possess so that recruiters can find me, which is also a way to improve my own skills," she said.

Phan Duong

Source: https://vnexpress.net/cuoc-cach-mang-tim-viec-cua-gen-z-4734018.html