By Alyssa Hill, Spring 2020 Intern, PR (Earned) – RPG Boston
The oldest person in Gen Z is currently around 23 years old. It is a generation that social communities and the workforce are preparing for with new technologies.
As a member of Gen Z, I can speak for myself and my peers in saying that technology has had a significant impact on our lives since childhood. We grew up with technology in our homes watching our favorite streamed shows on Smart TVs, in our schools completing assignments on classroom laptops, and in our everyday work lives building our networks through platforms such as LinkedIn.
New technologies affect Gen Z’s lifestyle more than any other generation before. Businesses have even had to adapt their recruitment and training processes, and individuals’ social interactions with influencers and companies are more consistent in communication.
Virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and the upcoming 5G revolution. These technologies are impacting my generation directly in terms of how we express our ideas and engage with the world. While there are optimistic and pessimistic perspectives, it is important to understand both sides, as they pose to influence the world’s future employees and bosses.
It is undeniable that technology in our social lives has seen the most impact. We grew up in environments where our young lives have been publicized, influencing the way we interact with others. Aspects like live streaming, geofilters, and stories through platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, have pushed social media beyond superficial interactions.
How much or how little to share? That’s a question many in my generation have confronted. As more avenues to share online become available, that same question turns into how much can I keep to myself? The constructs of the online image have become necessary for identifying people and their social groups.
With artificial intelligence influencing trained algorithms, image recognition technology has been able to build customized feeds on various platforms. AI records aspects of what we like and dislike. Information we receive is tailored to our preferences. Constant refreshing has put the world at the tip of our fingers. AI is catering to the social world by making digital experiences worthwhile.
As technology improves the capabilities of social media, corporations are beginning to assign it more in their business models. Gen Z has begun to understand the range of how far their online social presence can take them, as evident in the rise of social media influencers, who have made the business of social media a reality. Thus, Gen Z’s inclination towards technology has encouraged businesses to do the same when it comes to attracting Gen Z consumers.
Technology has made online communications a place where we can become more immersed in what we see and what we like, something company recruiters have begun to recognize. As more of Gen Z gets older and enters the workforce, recruitment becomes more advanced. Our social image isn't just for our close friends anymore. It has shifted to how recruiters view us. Simultaneously, recruiters understand the importance of how Gen Z views their companies.
Augmented reality and virtual reality technology, with the help of 5G developments, have revolutionized the way recruiters attract applicants to their job postings and train new employees. This increases the level of commitment many of us have for the job as we submit our applications. We don't only see a job description, but we deeply see what it means to work there. We can immerse ourselves in a 360-view of workplace cultures.
We are a digital generation. Ways to learn are nearly boundless. Our attraction to a job extends to its digital training offerings. AR and VR technologies are allowing Gen Z to develop needed soft skills in our industries like never before. Ultimately, this technology has the potential to shape the type of employees we will be in the business world.
Technology plays a pivotal role in helping businesses develop strategies on how to engage Gen Z. Technology has been ingrained in Gen Z’s lives since childhood, so it will need to be heavily incorporated into business trajectories in the coming years.
Ultimately, while technological development is crucial for companies’ digital transformation initiatives, it will also be critical for attracting Gen Z as both customers and employees. In the end, how businesses proceed from a technological standpoint will influence their success with Gen Z, a group that has also become famous for its skepticism of corporate influence.
About the Author
Alyssa Hill is a Spring 2020 Public Relations Intern out of RPG's Boston HQ. She is spending her internship working on multiple tech accounts this semester. Alyssa focuses on daily news reporting and building media outreach lists for her teams’ accounts. She has a passion for marketing, strategy, and agency life. She is currently completing her BSBA program in the Questrom School of Business at Boston University.