Career Development Professionals Contemplate the Shift in Career Attitudes Among Generation Z
A new generation has arrived in the workplace, and with them, a new set of expectations that employers must heed to ensure a content and productive workforce. However, the Association of Higher Education Careers Services (AHECS) is gathering on the Grangegorman Campus of TU Dublin next week to explore why and how career professionals in Higher Education can advance their professional practice to effectively engage and support Gen Z learners, meeting their unique needs as they explore and develop their career paths. Dave Kilmartin, Senior Manager of Student Success at TU Dublin, host of this year’s conference, explains that Gen Z is Ireland’s most diverse generation, with many also growing up in households with less rigid gender norms.
In the 2022 census, 23% of respondents identified their ethnic group or background as non-Irish, including many Gen Z graduates who have begun entering the workplace in recent years. Much is said about Gen Z’s career expectations regarding work-life balance and fulfilling work; however, a key difference and strength of Gen Z is their diversity and expectation that the workplace be as equitable as their experience of family and education. One challenge we will explore during the two-day AHECS conference is how we prepare Gen Z students to advocate for inclusivity as they build their careers in sectors that might be lagging behind.
Speaking about the upcoming event, AHECS Chair Orla Bannon said, “The Association of Higher Education Careers Services, as the recognised authority on graduate career development, learning and employability, is delighted to collaborate with our colleagues in TU Dublin to host this important Biennial event. It provides a unique opportunity for our community to come together to share their knowledge and experiences in a stimulating and interactive environment and to learn from experts in our field. Ultimately, it is our students and graduates who will benefit from this learning as we prepare them for the society, economy and global world of the future.”
AHECS, established in 1969, represents Higher Education Careers and Employability professionals across Ireland in 26 Universities, Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology. Over 170 members will gather in TU Dublin on the 28th and 29th of May for a series of keynote presentations, including ‘How do people make complex major life decisions?’ by the ESRI’s Dr Pete Lunn and ‘ChatACLYSM! Generation Z and the New World of Work’ by Dr Paul Redmond of the University of Liverpool. Other activities include workshops by Christiane Brennan of TU Dublin on ‘Supporting Gen Z students with Mental Health challenges to transition from education into employment.’
For more information about AHECS Biennial 2024 – Advancing Professional Practice to Meet the Needs of Gen Z Advancing Professional Practice to Meet the Needs of Gen Z, visit the AHECS website.