Gen Z's career motivations have evolved. Here's how

Gen Zers have garnered an unfair reputation of being lazy and disinterested in their careers. On the contrary, they have been heavily influenced by the world they grew up in and that is affecting what drives them professionally. 

Individuals in this generation were generally born between 1997 and 2012 so the group ranges from children who are almost entering high school to those who have been in the workforce for a few years. 

When it comes to career aspirations, 69% of Gen Z want to make enough money to live comfortably, according to data from workplace insights platform Statista, with 31% saying they want to make a positive impact on the world or their community — and the intersection of those two findings is what's really defining young talent. 

Read more: Gen Xers were voted the best managers among their colleagues

"We are all a product of the environment we are brought up in," says Jennifer Schielke, CEO and co-founder of Summit Group Solutions, a relationship-focused IT staffing and recruiting partner. "The bookends currently impressing Gen Z are COVID-19's impact in 2020 to the present and the uncertain and gloomy global economic forecast of the 2030s. There's no doubt what they've experienced is driving their steps and internal lenses." 

According to the National Society of High School Scholars, medicine and health-related fields are the most popular professional interests for upcoming talent. That's followed by engineering, science and government work, such as joining the CIA, the FBI, the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All of these inclinations are a direct result from some of the biggest cultural events they've faced from a global pandemic to the upcoming election. 

"This generation has been at the center of everyone's response — family, friends, strangers, government officials, educators and health professionals — with little boundaries," Schielke says. "It's no wonder both healthcare and government jobs are top-of-mind for them. This is also a generation that feels a great and heavy psychological response to COVID-19, [which could have] driven a compassionate level of commitment to improving the health arena."

And while Gen Z is less interested in committing to a formal career path or working for a single employer their entire lives, according to Schielke, they are still eager to find employers who provide fair treatment of employees, work-life balance and corporate social responsibility. This means that employers will also have to adjust their recruiting methods. 

Read more: Why it's up to Gen Z to lead the AI movement — especially at work

"Their main attractors are health benefits, personal time off and flexible work schedules," she says. "This is a generation used to rapid change and they look to employers to invest in them and their growth. Professional development and rapid progression and reward are strong motivators to staying power." 

As for Gen Z's navigating the job market, Schielke urges them to use their experiences, regardless of how tumultuous, to their advantage when looking for the right job. 

"Lean into your mentors and people you trust when you meet challenges and face the storms," Schielke says. "Reflect on what you've accomplished and what you've learned consistently, and don't be afraid of course correcting; this is life. Your asset is your knowledge — protect and independently vet where it comes from and how you use it."