There are many factors that are holding young Gen Z workers back from achieving their full potential, but the lack of career mentorship might be their biggest limitation. A new study of career mentorship among Gen Z found that an increasing number of them lack confidence in securing their futures, mental health, work-life balance, and finances. The feelings of isolation could be attributed to many beginning their careers in isolation due to remote work setups, however, even those enthusiastic about returning to the office feel uncertainty in their careers.
The mentorship crisis within the workplace is a problem across generations, but the issue is most evident among young workers at the start of their careers, unsure of what comes next. Providing Gen Z with guidance at work could be the single most critical factor to improving engagement and building up the future workforce of any given industry, but this requires the active involvement of HR teams and employers.
The Lack of Career Mentorship Being Extended to Gen Z Is Causing Confidence to Dip
Gen Zers are facing overwhelming uncertainties, and that lack of career mentorship is partially to blame for it. A new survey by The Harris Poll and the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) found that nearly three in four young people lack access to mentorship, despite it being a critical resource that could transform the confidence they feel in their careers.
Only 41% of the youth feel confident about navigating the job market as it stands today, and the number declines further when mentorship is absent. “Despite having the highest educational achievement rates in history, our youth are facing a confidence crisis,” Libby Rodney, Chief Strategy Officer of The Harris Poll, said. “This isn’t about work ethic – it’s about a generation that needs guidance.”
Why Should Mentorship and Gen Z Guidance at Work Be a Priority?
Is the provision of mentorship really that critical? Certainly! Mentorship can narrow the margins between learning and applying, providing a more curated path towards success. The Harris Poll report also focused on the life-changing impact of mentorship and found that 84% believe mentorship opens doors to new opportunities and possibilities.
Around 83% say that mentorship helps bridge the gap between what they learn in the classroom and how it translates into the real world. This connection is often hard for workers to derive on their own, especially when employers are impatient with them, but a guiding hand can turn things around considerably. For 81%, it was easier to feel confident, not just about work, but about school and life as well, thanks to mentorship.