This week Oven-Ready HR Podcast guest believes that Generation Z workers and the demographic cohorts that follow, are woefully underprepared for the workplace.  Elan Divon a Harvard-trained author, speaker and founder of Divon Academy; an organization that prepares students and professionals for success in an age of disruption believes Gen Z workers lack critical soft skills and have become so over reliant on technology that they could be the last generation to be considered as fully-fledged human beings.

As an HR or recruitment professional, do you think Generation Z workers are ready for the workplace?

Finishing Schools were popular in the 19th Century when young women were taught social graces as preparation for the entry into society.  Fast forward 150 years and is a similar approach needed for workers entering the workplace?

Elan Divon believes the next 10 years will see the fastest acceleration of technology the planet has ever seen and the effect on the workplace will be profound. Many Generation Z workers he claims lack basic soft skills such as creativity, emotional intelligence, problem solving and collaboration.  Divon maintains these skills will become even more important in the years ahead given that automation and technology will render many roles obsolete and only those positions requiring a human intervention will survive. 

He says his work is underpinned by numerous studies detailing HR's frustration with the ability of Generation Z workers to maintain strong interpersonal relationships, demonstrate resilience, collaborate with others and cope with stress.  He cites the example of basic communication; when a Generation Z worker says they'll call you, this really translates to I’ll send you a text or an instant message.

What you'll discover in this Oven-Ready HR Podcast episode:

• How a decision to buy an ice cream for his date started him on an incredible journey;
• Elan's passion for anthropology, ancient texts, philosophy and mythology and how these combine into 'rites of passage'
• His fears that Generation Z have become too reliant on technology
• His sadness that there are so few rites of passages now for many young people leaving them unprepared for work;
• The major skills he sees Generation Z lacking such as creativity and emotional intelligence;
• An overview of the services and approach of the  Divon Academy

 So do we need a Finishing School for Generation Z workers?

Resources:

https://divonacademy.com
https://ovenreadyhr.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/podcasthost/
Twitter: @OvenHr

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