Consider a typical Gen Z high schooler. In their email inbox are 1,282 unopened messages — a large portion of them from teachers, club leaders, and employers. By ignoring such communications, they have fallen behind in classes or neglected crucial responsibilities. For them to succeed, something will need to change. Gen Z students, with help from adults, must become more accountable and adapt to a tyical workload that will prepare them for the future.
Currently, 36 percent of Gen Z workers have over 1,000 unread emails, according to CNBC. It is no shock that Gen Z prefers less formal communication. Apps like Instagram and Snapchat thrive off Gen Z’s desire for quick and easy communication, with over 94 percent of all Gen Z using social media.
Even though they prefer quicker forms of communication, Gen Zers must be held accountable for reading their emails. Their success at school, as well as with internships and job opportunities, depends on it. A lack of communication skills can lead to missed or late assignments because students forget to check assignment deadlines and reminders. Moreover, many students with a good reason for missing assignments neglect to communicate with their teachers, creating the illusion that they're lazy. Gen Z has also reported that emails are too tedious, lessons on crafting emails would address this. In parallel, 74 percent of employers in a Forbes survey believed that Gen Z workers are harder to work with than other generations — citing their entitlement and how easily they can be offended. Also, Gen Z employees are often reluctant to work standard hours and tend to communicate at odd hours. As a result, one in six employers were reluctant to hire Gen Zers.
Nevertheless, there are also many positive sides to hiring Gen Z employees. Gen Z’s diverse perspectives create a welcoming environment for people of all backgrounds. 88 percent of Gen Zers believe that companies must inquire about preferred pronouns. In addition, 16 percent more of Gen Z believe that sexism should be addressed in the workplace compared with other generations.
Gen Z must make changes to adapt to the current structure of work and school environments. Giving teachers and employers the same level of attention and communication as one's friends is a good first step. Also, many assignments and jobs demand collaboration, so whether in the classroom, at an internship, or working the register, Gen Zers must develop their interpersonal skills. Since 84 percent of Gen Zers prefer in-person communications, this is clearly an achievable goal.
So, should the typical Gen Z student be clearing their inbox daily? Yes. High school students must learn to communicate. But to truly support Gen Zers, employers and teachers will also need to think creatively — working alongside younger generations rather than simply criticizing them.