Why Gen Z need a career coach

With 66 percent of Gen-Z viewing career hopping as essential to progression, today's graduates need more than just traditional training, they require a career coach who can provide both practical skills and guidance.

Gen-Z graduates enter the workforce with a unique perspective on professional growth, placing a strong emphasis on continuous learning and self-improvement, ready to challenge the status quo. With 74 percent of millennials and Gen Z considering quitting their jobs due to a lack of skill-building opportunities, it’s clear that organisations must prioritise structured development programmes if they wish to retain this generation’s top talent.

Furthermore, Gen Z require a clear career pathway and the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through in-person collaboration and shadowing—a departure from the remote-heavy environment shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

What’s the Difference Between a Career Coach and a Trainer?

Understanding the difference between a career coach and a trainer is key to guiding an employee’s career. Trainers focus on teaching specific skills needed for certain jobs, helping with immediate tasks as part of a day-to-day role. In contrast, career coaching goes beyond job-specific skills, focusing on long-term career growth. A career coach gives personalised advice on making decisions, building connections, and developing personally, helping individuals manage the challenges of their career journey and ultimately strive for their career goals.

For Gen-Z, this difference is especially important as Gen-Z values continuous learning and wants career guidance that focuses not just on current skills, but also on long-term growth. They appreciate regular feedback and performance reviews. For example, if a young professional wants to move into a leadership role, a career coach can guide them through the steps and strategies needed, helping them build the right skills for success. This sort of mentorship typically doesn’t come from a trainer, whose sole goal is to improve an employee’s short-term skills for the benefit of the business, rather than the individual.

Career coaching fits with Gen-Z's preference for mentorship and personalised management, which builds trust and encourages long-term commitment to an employer.

Readiness for the Real World

Experiential learning can play an important role in preparing graduates to enter the workforce and setting themselves apart from others entering the workforce. It’s about more than just classroom lessons, experiential learning helps people practise and prepare for the actual work environment they’ll face on the job by training in a simulated environment with the technology and systems used across industry. This gives Gen Z the best possible platform to succeed in the workplace from day one.

80 percent of Gen Z employees prefer learning from colleagues in person, benefiting from structured training and shadowing opportunities to accelerate their development. These methods provide immediate feedback and enhance job readiness by integrating real-world problem-solving and mentorship into their learning process. For Gen Z, the office can be a key space for collaboration, learning, and professional growth.

Programmes that incorporate experiential learning simulate real workplace environments using industry-standard tools, allowing graduates to practise job scenarios in a risk-free setting. This hands-on experience helps them to build practical skills and mirror the challenges they will face in professional roles.

Guidance for Individual Growth

Career coaching is most effective when tailored to each employee's needs, aligning their skills and goals with industry demands. One-on-one coaching helps employees identify their strengths, address areas for improvement, and pursue goals that align with both their aspirations and their employer’s objectives – this business alignment goes far beyond just training and creates an environment where both sides win.

By integrating personalised management, ongoing feedback, and practical experience, companies can meet Gen Z's evolving expectations. Investing in structured career paths and mentorship not only supports skill development but also helps employees thrive in the workplace, making them feel supported and valued. Continuous growth is crucial, boosting retention among Gen Z employees and setting both the business and its people up for success.

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