Clearview National April 2019 - Issue 209 | Page 88

BUSINESSNEWS
THE A TO Z OF APPRENTICES FROM ‘GEN Z’
‘THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW’
» » WHEN YOUR COMPANY’S
workload begins to pile up and you need an
extra pair of hands on a project, there are
a few avenues you can take. You can hire a
freelancer, get in touch with a contractor,
or spend every waking moment working on
things yourself (not a great option).
Recently, though, more and more businesses
are taking advantage of an underestimated
option: apprenticeships.
Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for
businesses to gain productive, enthusiastic
workers while also investing in developing
skilled employees. As well as having the
financial benefit of low staff costs, they provide
a great source of energy and fresh ideas. The
government is also in full support, as the
Apprenticeship Levy helps businesses fund
apprentices with the aim of supporting quality
training with employers at the centre.
If you’re looking to hire an apprentice, Gen Z
is your hunting ground: they make up the vast
majority of apprenticeships candidates today.
Don’t be fooled into thinking they spend all
their time glued to their phones, though: Gen
Z is a vein of untapped potential.
WHAT IS GEN Z?
People often lump everyone under thirty
in a category called ‘Millennials’ but this isn’t
technically correct. Millennials are categorised
as those born between 1981 and 1994,
making them 22-37 years of age today. This
makes Gen Z -- those born after 1995 -- the
workforce of tomorrow, so it’s important you
know who they are and what drives them.
Ryan Latham, senior marketing executive
for 3B Training, has experienced first-hand
how businesses can benefit from hiring a Gen
Z apprentice.
88 » A PR 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
“As a former apprentice myself I am
definitely on board with the system, it’s a
great opportunity to get on the first step of
your career ladder. We also have a Gen Z’er
apprentice working under me in our marketing
department and she has been highly beneficial.
She is highly tech-savvy and has actually taught
me a thing or two about newer social platforms.
She can complete tasks almost twice as fast as I
can and to a great standard, don’t write off the
Gen Z generation.”
THE BENEFITS OF HIRING
A GEN Z APPRENTICE
1. THEY’RE TECH SAVVY
Whereas Millennials grew up in the digital
age, Gen Z’ers were born into it. And while
it might be tempting for some to bellyache
about them being glued to their smartphones,
Gen Z’s technophilia comes with a useful side-
effect: they can easily wrap their heads around
new technology.
For industries that are heavily rooted in
computing or digital technologies, Gen Z
apprentices are able to integrate into their role
effortlessly.
So, whereas Brian from Accounting may
not like the new operating system, a Gen Z
apprentice will learn it inside out.
2. THEY’RE MASTERS
OF MULTITASKING
When kids have grown up using streaming a
Youtube tutorial as they Facetime a friend while
adding shopping to their virtual basket, is it any
surprise that they are skilled at multitasking?
Whether they are posting, commenting or
swiping, Gen Z’ers have adapted to using
multiple platforms simultaneously.
This ingrained skill is adaptable to almost
any work environment, meaning you’ll have
no trouble putting this to good use. This can
be as simple as taking detailed minutes in a
meeting or as complex as cross-platform data
entry.
3. THEY HAVE A SHORT ATTENTION
SPAN (YES, THAT’S A GOOD THING)
Gen Z’ers are constantly absorbing
information, often in the blink of an eye.
Spending their youth surrounded by apps
such as Snapchat and Instagram has made
receiving constant updates the norm, which
has ultimately stunted their attention
spans.
This has, however, given Gen Z’ers an
advantage when it comes to absorbing
information. As they’re accustomed to
receiving a barrage of updates, Gen Z’ers
have a knack for processing information
faster than other generations and are highly
adaptable to change, meaning they can
absorb the barrage of updates in Monday’s
meeting even when no one else can.
4. THEY’RE ENTREPRENEURIAL
THINKERS
Gen Z’ers have grown up in a world of
innovation, full of developing technology
and connected to every corner of the globe.
They’ve seen what’s possible and want a piece
of the action for themselves.
This has resulted in a generation of young
adults who are starting their careers with an
entrepreneurial head on their shoulders. They
are full of ideas - use them before someone
else does.
www.3btraining.com