Decoding Career Goals for Gen Z: It’s More Than Just a Paycheck!

Welcome back to Payroll Perspectives, whilst normally, Natalie Lloyd pairs up with Nick Day to bring you valuable insights and strategies to help you build high-performing payroll teams and drive business success, this week, Natalie is joined by our guest writer, Nick’s daughter, Eva Day. 🤩

“Hi, I'm Eva and This past week I've spent my time away from school and instead experienced my first time in an office environment! It's different from what I had expected especially being used to school environments and classrooms. At school I chose as my GCSE options: Business studies, Geography, Spanish, Art and Drama. A good mix between creativity and studying. I like to think of myself as creative and hardworking, which will hopefully help my career in the future!” 

This week, we’ve switched things up a bit, going beyond the paycheck and looking at some of those key benefits and important factors for the younger generation! 

From my experience working in recruitment and customer success, I have had the opportunity to speak to a diverse pool of candidates every day, giving me a unique insight into what drives their career aspirations.  We all have some sort of experience in the workplace, but today I want to rewind back to the very first time we experienced work-life…. 

I’m sure everyone reading this remembers that week during year 10 where you’re sent off into the working world to learn new skills, meet new people and get a glimpse of what life is like after education… 

I was a super-shy, 15-year-old when work experience week hit, and with my preferred choice pulling out the week before, my school picked the local hairdressers to send me off to! (anyone who knows me will know this was my absolute worst nightmare!). 

Then the call comes in on Monday morning to let me know that the salon is closed on Monday and Tuesday, so I was to turn up ready on Wednesday morning…. But there was another spanner in the works – that was the day I got my braces fitted. So, they kindly gave me a third day off that week to ‘recover’. 🤓 Thursday arrives, and I turn up, face full of metal, dreading the next two days, to be greeted by a wonderful stylist called Sam and a very grumpy manager called Tracey.  

Thankfully, Sam took me under his wing and told Tracey there would be no hair sweeping or tea-making, the next two days were all about artistry, colour and getting to know clients! 

We spent the morning flicking through hair and beauty magazines, making mood boards of styles and colours that I liked, then out came the mannequin head for me to start the process of bleaching, foiling, cutting and curling to my heart’s content. 💇♀️

Once I was used to the colours, textures and processes, Sam bought me over to speak to his clients, having the initial chat about what they wanted, what made them feel good and what inspired the change. (and of course, the standard hairdresser line of “have you got any nice holidays booked this year?”) 

Suddenly, being shy and quiet went out the door, and I spent the next 2 days chatting away, encouraging people to have the confidence for something a bit different, and mirroring Sam’s technique on the mannequin heads whilst he worked next to me on real clients. 

So… what did I learn in 2 days of work experience? Well... not a lot of hairdressing skills! 

But I did learn the importance of listening and understanding clients, digging a little deeper to find out what’s important to them and helping them walk out of the salon feeling positive and confident! 

I also learned that bringing a bit of creativity and fun to your work keeps things fresh, as well as inviting opportunities for change across the business and the way the team works. 

So, 15 years later, I was delighted to find out I’d be joined by Nick Day’s daughter, Eva, for a week of work experience at JGA Recruitment Group, and hopeful that I could inspire her to have a fun, insightful and educational experience, just like Sam did with me all those years ago. 

My first observation…. I am OLD 😂 

Turns out, I’m not as ‘down-with-the-kids’ as I thought. Having Eva in the office really made me see things from the point of view of Gen Z and talking with her made me realise just how important it is for companies everywhere to adapt and understand the values of younger generations. 

While Eva might not be ready to pick a specific career path just yet, she has certainly put some thought into what’s important to her when she’s ready to begin her career journey. She’s currently doing a GCSE in Business Studies, as well as being raised by 2 passionate and successful business owners, so it’s no surprise to hear that Eva (and many others of her generation) know what she wants from her future employer. 

Based on my conversations with Eva, it’s clear that today’s young adults are looking beyond just a paycheck. They want fulfilling work, but they also want a healthy work-life balance, not to mention a salary that will support them as they step into adulthood during a cost-of-living crisis! 

Gone are the days when just a good salary was enough to attract and retain talent. This generation—and those that follow—want more, and frankly, they deserve more. Gen Z, have a distinct set of priorities and career goals that set them apart. So, it was eye-opening to have Eva in the office to tell the team exactly what makes younger generations tick, and how we, as talent partners, can work with our clients to ensure a career within their organisations is appealing to generations to come! 

This week, Eva has worked closely with the JGA team, covering marketing, recruitment, customer success and accounting (not her favourite bit!) to get a good idea of all areas of the business, and how our team collaborate to deliver a seamless service, every time!

“To be completely honest, I was expecting this week to be boring however it certainly wasn’t what I had expected. The office was very friendly and has a good work balance, shared between working and being communal and sociable. As my Dad normally works from home he's often on his own working hard on his computer which never really appealed to me, however the office life is very different. There are frequent meetings with other colleagues, and everyone works as a collective by helping each other with clients and candidates. In the future, I realised that I want to work around others and be a part of a team, I learnt this from this week in the JGA Head Office.”

For me, one of the most eye-opening things was how deeply Gen Z care about sustainability and ethical practices. Eva expressed that working for companies with a strong sense of social responsibility wasn’t just a preference—it was a dealbreaker.  

This goes beyond just environmental consciousness; it's about aligning their professional lives with their personal values. 

Eva showed a solid interest in our Greenify package, offering a carbon-neutral recruitment service for our clients, as well as asking questions to find out more about JGA Recruitment Group’s journey to becoming a certified B-Corp! 🌿

One thing Eva taught me is that Gen Z want to work for organisations who are committed to environmental protection, fair labour practices, and ethical sourcing. I learned my own bias here, as I had never expected someone so young to have such a strong opinion and understanding of environmental issues caused by businesses.  

One thing I did note: companies that don’t prioritise these values are at a huge risk alienating the largest percentage of working individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact! It’s clear that it’s time for change!

Eva says: “In my opinion, I think it’s embarrassing working for a company which is destroying our planet. For me, I wouldn't work for a company that doesn't care for our planet and sustainability, as we only have one earth, and it must last for our many future generations. I know that Gen Z is more aware and have a stronger connection with sustainability and saving our planet than maybe other generations; however, companies that ignore this are not only missing out on employees and customers but also creating problems for our planet in the future.” 🌍

Growing up post-covid…. Flexibility is key! 

Today, younger generations are known for their desire for flexible work arrangements. They value work-life balance and seek employers who offer remote work options, flexible hours, and the ability to manage their own time effectively. The traditional 9-to-5 office job is a no-go for Gen Z, and they’re showing they can be more productive, more successful and more creative outside of the old Henry Ford way of working. 

And no, it’s not a ‘lazy teenager’ thing. It's about people taking control of their lives and integrating work seamlessly. Smart companies are adapting to this new reality by offering flexible work arrangements and promoting remote working options – with some even introducing a 4-day work week, work from anywhere options and so much more…. 

I asked Eva why flexibility is so important to her, here’s what she had to say: 

“I like the idea of flexible working hours and days because it gives people more freedom in their work, such as if I decided that I wanted to work in a cafe one day, I have the flexibility to do my work there. It's also great for childcare and maybe any other issues with coming into an office every day.”

Then comes the all-important topic of cost-of-living vs cost-of-happiness! 

While financial security is obviously essential in 2024, today’s teens aren’t solely driven by money. Eva emphasised that a role had to be personally rewarding and align with her interests for her to consider it. This means they want to find meaning and purpose in their work. 

We had a great conversation in the car on the way back from an ice-cream break, where Eva asked about my own journey and how I went from hospitality to recruitment. 

The truth? I wanted to make sure my next step was a job where I still had the opportunity to make others happy. 

It all started when I trained as a chef in my teens – I wanted a job where I made people happy every day… and it’s no secret that the way to most people’s hearts is through their stomach! 👩🍳💖 

Working in restaurants was great, they’re full of happiness, because let’s face it, you only go out for dinner for something good! Whether it’s a date night, family dinner, birthday or just a Wednesday-night treat, going out for dinner always puts a smile on your face, and it’s even better when the food is incredible. 

As my career progressed, I went into wedding catering, where my input contributed to the best day of people’s lives. Every day that I went to work, I knew I’d be creating a memorable experience for not 2, but hundreds of people who were there to enjoy an experience with the happy couple. 

And then… the lockdown hit! No events, no weddings and no external caterers. 

And of course, the F word. FURLOUGH. 

Sitting at home every day wasn’t for me, and my 1-hour of outside exercise wasn’t exerting all the energy I had – so I needed something to focus on… which led to me studying HR. Afterall, it was always the people element of my job that bought me the most joy! 

After the best part of 18-months away from work, all of a sudden, I realised that losing my weekends and evenings to go back into hospitality was a firm no from me. That time with my family and friends was far too important, so I made the decision to find myself a new path. 

Goodbye hospitality, hello HR & Payroll recruitment! 

People thought I was mad. But there was a reason behind it! I needed a job where I could still bring people joy, and landing someone a new job or a big pay rise, or solving the problems of our clients was going to be a great way to do it.

Thankfully, I secured an interview with JGA Recruitment Group , where Steve Yardley , Tom Croughton and Abu Choudhury showed me how important offering a stand-out service is, with the foundations of our recruitment practices lying in honest, open and regular communication with candidates and clients.

I was delighted to have found a role where I was able to use those skills learned from Sam all those years ago to listen to candidates and clients, understanding their needs and providing a solution to make their lives better. 

Over 3 years, I built out my own client base, became a trusted name in the industry and helped countless individuals and organisations to find their perfect matches. 

Then the next step came, where I took on the role of Global Customer Success Manager earlier this year, ensuring every single experience is positive and that I can work with our clients every day to make sure things keep getting better as JGA Recruitment Group grows, globally. 

It was great to show Eva that yes, money is important, but for me, finding a role that aligned to my own personal values was just as key. 

Companies need to create environments where employees feel valued, challenged, and empowered, as well as having that personally rewarding element. Offering opportunities for personal and professional growth, such as mentorship programs, skill development workshops, and career progression plans, can significantly enhance job satisfaction and retention among employees of any age. 

“In the future I want to do something that I enjoy, and something that reflects who I am as a person. A role that can be sociable and to be in a part of a community in the workplace. I would like to find a job that can be creative and something that I don’t dread every morning.”

On Thursday, Eva joined the JGA team for some recruitment workshops, something we regularly hold as part of our industry-leading academy programme, because we’re never too old or too experienced to learn something new! 

Something Eva bought up was her views on how to attract great talent! Gone are the days when companies could get away with vague job descriptions and long, monotonous hiring processes. Eva mentioned how much she values open and honest communication and was VERY clear that salary transparency is crucial during the recruitment stage. She mentioned how her and her friends would be put off by an advert with no defined salary and thought of it as a lack of respect for their time and interest. It's simple - being upfront about compensation demonstrates respect and allows candidates to make informed decisions – even in those who are just starting out in the working world. 

“I think it’s important to know the salary because sometimes it’s the whole reason you get into a job. As much as I think the salary is important, I also think that a well-written job description and an overview of other benefits that the job offers is also very important. If the information is not clear, then I’m going to lose interest. Many of my peers also express that salary is a huge thing as they begin to plan their futures.”

So, that’s a wrap on our work experience week. I call it ours because I learned A LOT from having Eva here, and it was eye-opening to see things from a much younger person with such a strong business mind. 

As Global Customer Success Manager, I’ve decided to kickstart a project to work with our clients to move beyond outdated hiring processes and embrace new ways of working. As employers and recruiters, it’s our responsibility to listen, adapt, and create work environments that resonate with this generation’s values. 

From prioritising sustainability, embracing flexibility and building meaningful careers, there’s a lot that companies can do to attract and retain this talented pool of individuals. By creating workplaces where Gen Z can thrive, businesses can unlock a world of innovation, creativity, and success for decades to come! 

So, a massive thank you to Eva for being such an inspiration this week. I’m looking forward to hopefully welcoming her back soon and will be keeping an eye on that Forbes 30 under 30 list in the coming years for Eva’s name! I have no doubt she’ll be breaking barriers once she kickstarts her career!  

For me, this week was a huge eye-opener to stay with the times! We’re all chasing the ever-changing industry updates but staying on top of talent trends is just as important!

Many of my connections know how strongly I feel about supporting younger generations into the workforce, and previous conversations with Emily Cocking ACIPP (Payroll Manager by 22!!) and Victoria Thatcher ChMCIPP , among many others, have sparked some exciting upcoming projects to ensure JGA Recruitment Group can help Gen Z take on payroll as a career path. Watch this space! 👀

If you’ve made it this far (thank you!) and have read this thinking “my business could do with a fresh perspective”, consider speaking to local universities, younger people, or even welcoming a work-experience student into your team fir a week – it’s amazing what Gen Z know about running an efficient organisation!

And if you’re looking for an inclusive way to recruit new payroll or HR talent into your team, reach out to JGA Recruitment Group today.

We act as strategic partners, working with your HR & Talent teams to elevate your capabilities and contribute to your long-term success.

At JGA, we pride ourselves on providing a world-class client and candidate experience, meaning we’re dedicated to finding the BEST fit for your requirements, securing a skillset that adds value and contributes to a vibrant and diverse team.

Book in a call today to discuss your specific needs with us.

And for more information on how we do it, check out our previous editions of “Payroll Perspectives” which gives insights into our top secrets to securing the best talent, and where you can find a copy of our JGA Blueprint!

Please stay tuned for more valuable content from our new "Payroll Perspectives" newsletter!

Best regards,

Natalie Lloyd and Eva Day

JGA Recruitment Group

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