TL;DR:
This is written mostly for parents of Gen Z, but contains tips Gen Z themselves can use.
The job market your Gen Z progeny is stepping into looks nothing like the one you graduated into. In fact, it may even surprise you with how unrecognizable it feels. The closest historical comparison is the Millennial job hunt in 2014 – just after the Great Recession – when optimism and you-will-change-the-world mentality ran into a wall of closed doors. Here’s what has changed, what it means, and how you can help your young adult children navigate it with clarity and confidence.
What Today’s Job Market Really Looks Like
If you graduated high school in the 1990s or college in the early 2000s, you probably remember this:
- Apply to 10-15 jobs
- Get a few interviews
- Land something stable in a few months; maybe even with benefits
For many parents, this still feels like common sense, but Gen Z is facing a very different world. Here’s how:
1. A Flooded Entry-Level Market with Fewer Entry-Level Jobs
Despite headlines about low unemployment, entry-level roles are more competitive than ever. Why, you ask?
- Employers often want 1–3 years of experience for “entry-level” positions.
- Degree inflation means bachelor’s degrees are no longer enough, and are sometimes actually considered a liability.
- Many companies downsized Gen Z-targeted roles post-pandemic and have not rebuilt them, opting for AI and a wait-and-see approach regarding soft skills such as teachability, teamwork, and resilience.
Search trend data confirms: Searches for “can’t get job after college” and “entry-level jobs need experience” have spiked in recent years, to say nothing of the heart-wrenching searches such as “what am I doing wrong when applying for a job?”
2. AI and Automation Are Reshaping Expectations
Parents were told to “learn computers.” Gen Z is being told to learn how to work with AI or be replaced by it.
- Resumes are increasingly screened by AI before humans ever see them. While technology isn’t remotely new, “turn it off and on” isn’t an option for job-seekers if the AI momentarily fails.
- Cover letters and applications are often judged on formatting, keywords, and by black-box, proprietary algorithms.
- LinkedIn optimization and “applicant tracking systems” (ATS) are now basic literacy, and can be hugely disheartening.
What worked before – networking and persistence – still matters, but the execution is completely different.
3. The College Degree Guarantee is Gone
The idea that college ensures a job is no longer a safe bet. In fact, more Gen Z grads are “underemployed” than any generation before them, meaning they’re working jobs that don’t require their degree at all. It’s not about laziness or lack of talent so much as it’s a systemic shift:
- Hiring has become more risk-averse
- Soft skills are grossly underdeveloped by many college programs, which are having to deal instead with soft skill development K-12 had solidified just a decade prior.
- Internships, networking, and career coaching matter more than GPA.
A surprising stat: In 2023, over 50% of recent grads said they didn’t feel ready for the real-world job hunt.
Why?! Every Generation has had Tough things to “Get Through”
True, but consider this: Gen Z lacks the signature experiences reminiscent of nearly all Gen X and most Millennial childhoods. The vast majority of Gen Z never learned to cope in the same ways we did, and that isn’t their fault, but now they need to catch up to a market that expects rapid assimilation. Soberingly, the data (here, here, and here) shows that most are really struggling to do so.
Now, as a university professor (and a Millennial who endured an – ongoing, really – rather brutal “kids these days” campaign, I’d like to state that Gen Z really is quite amazing in so many unique ways. They’re your kids, so I’m sure you agree with me. But, as a parent, I also empathize with your worry.
How this Echoes what Millennials Faced in 2014
If you recall the job market a decade ago, this might sound familiar:
- Delayed starts to careers
- Frustration despite degrees
- Reliance on side hustles, internships, or grad school as stopgaps
That “lost generation” feeling is creeping back – except Gen Z is arguably better informed but still stuck, and the world has noticed. Some have called them lost, others anxious, and the most brutal using wasted as a descriptor. What’s new today is the speed and complexity of job search platforms, algorithms, and expectations – something even most Millennials never faced.
What Parents Can Do to Help Gen Z Navigate It
The above message is bleak because well, this article was written with Gen X in mind, which is known for being amazingly resilient. You don’t need to be an expert in LinkedIn algorithms or resume formatting, but your support, perspective, and guidance still matter immensely. Here’s how to meet this moment:
1. Reframe Success
Success may not look like a 9-to-5 with a pension. Encourage experimentation, pivoting, and building skills across multiple jobs or internships. Careers are now built iteratively rather than linearly.
2. Support Strategy Over Spray-and-Pray
Blanket applications no longer work, or at least not in the same way. Help your favorite Gen Z adult focus on:
- Strategic targeting of job roles and industries
- Tailoring applications (yes, every single time…but only just enough so as to not waste time)
- Building real-world projects and experiences to stand out as early as possible (in college, if at all possible)
3. Encourage Coaching and Career Tools
Gen Z does not lacking ambition, and fact are on track to be the most entrepreneurial generation yet. They do often lack the playbook. Our guides are that playbook, existing to give Gen Z step-by-step directions alongside the rationale behind each:
- How to write a standout resume
- How to prepare for interviews using proven methods
- How to avoid common job search pitfalls so they don’t just send applications into the void with blanket hope
4. Validate the Emotional Toll
Rejection feels worse when you’ve followed “all the right steps” because then it feels very personal and even embarrassing. Acknowledge the frustration without minimizing it. They need your support, not just your solutions. A trusted expert can give them the hard feedback that yes, they do need just as well all do.
The Rules Have Changed, but Potential Remains Intact
Your Gen Z’er is entering a job market that rewards clarity, confidence, and adaptability rather than just credentials. The good news? With the right support, they can land jobs they love and grow into thriving careers, but it takes a different set of tools than the one you likely used. That’s why we built Ryze Guides; to close the gap between talent and opportunity.
Bonus FAQs for Parents of Gen Z Job Seekers
Q: Why isn’t my child getting interviews, even with a good degree?
A: They may be missing key resume keywords or tailoring, or applying to jobs with unrealistic requirements for entry-level roles. ATS software also plays a role.
Q: Should they go to grad school instead?
A: Only if it’s directly tied to a specific career path. Grad school is no longer the default backup plan, it’s a targeted investment. We went through a brief “grad school is the new college” phase, but even that’s over. As much as I love my industry and what I do, higher education just isn’t viewed by industry the same as it was before. Higher education is enjoying a meaningful reinvention, but industry will take time to remember its value.
Q: What’s the first thing I should help them focus on?
A: A clear, tailored resume and a strategy for applying intentionally – not just often.
Q: Where can we get guidance that’s both modern and effective?
A: We offer both products are built specifically for this market, with step-by-step support and coaching to help Gen Z stand out confidently. Take it from a Millennial who went through the closest parallel to today’s job market – a little help can go a LONG way.
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