Are your traditional ways of recruiting falling short with the incoming generation? Each generation ushers in change and we must be prepared to adjust. One thing that we must recognize is that as each generation enters the workforce, the previous generation has specific expectations that the new incoming generation will not accommodate. Things that were standard interview practice are no longer important if you want to attract great candidates. Below we discuss how to adjust your recruiting process to fit the next generation.

Dress to Impress?

As Gen Z enters the workforce, we can’t help but notice the extremely casual way candidates show up to interviews. One of the largest factors to consider with how Gen Z perceives the workplace is the fact that most graduated high school during or after the COVID pandemic. This marks Gen Z as the forgotten generation.. They didn’t have access to interview prep or resume building classes because everything was closed down. Nobody taught them the importance of showing up dressed to impress to an interview because many interviews were conducted over the phone or via ZOOM.

This leaves an entire generation feeling completely comfortable showing up to an interview in their work out clothes, crop tops, flip flops, etc. The shift we need to make as hiring mangers is to focus on what is important when considering a candidate. Instead of focusing on dress, take into consideration the candidate and the possible lack of training they might have had. How we dress can be taught, but are they a good fit for the job?

Attitude is Everything

While insignificant factors like attire can be ignored in an interview, one thing you definitely want to pay attention to is the attitude your candidate brings into the interview. The professional attitude of the gen Z as a whole is disconnected or distracted. However, there are a lot of diamonds in the rough. Things to assess: Do they want to be there? Do they have an eagerness to learn? Are they disconnected, distracted or seem annoyed?

One can assume there is not a lot of training that has gone into this generation but as a hiring manager, it’s imperative to keep in mind that attitude cannot be taught. If your candidate has all the experience and skills in the world but displays behavior that indicates they will not fit in well with our team- then this is not the job for them.

Ask For Help

For many managers, “hiring” is not the only hat they wear. Many are also running a team, doing operational work, attending meetings, doing sales, networking, etc. Remember, your time is money. With all the hats you wear in a day, it is impossible to do it all.

(Say it with me) You are the best version of yourself when you are able to share some of the hats you wear and spread out the work. Spending time recruiting, screening candidates, and scheduling interviews is not the best use of company time and money. Increase productivity and save money (and your sanity) by hiring a staffing agency to streamline your hiring process.

PRO TIP: Staffing Agencies are not one-size-fits-all. It’s important to know what each company offers so you match up with a group that can fulfill your specific needs. For example, if you’re hiring for permanent employment you need to make sure you have a staffing company helping you and not a temp agency. If you understand the difference between the two, you will save yourself a lot of stress. Temp agencies do not focus on long-term solutions. So if you are looking for someone to fill a position short-term, a temp agency is the way to go. And of course, Swift Staffing Solutions would love to help you navigate this process. Contact us here for more information.

Whether it is Gen Z or the generations that follow, with each passing group, change is evident. There are strong, capable, kind candidates out there ready to work. Make sure you are not looking past them because of something as simple as interview attire. Be sure you are asking the right questions, assessing their attitude and teachability. A few adjustments to your recruiting process could make all the difference.