Bring On Gen Z: Onboarding Today’s Talent

January 29, 2025

evolution of Gen Z from tech baby to tech adult

Gen Z – and the attributes associated with this generation – have been making headlines and causing head-scratches since they first entered the workforce. Thoughtful research and solid data have helped hiring managers sort out fact from fiction, and have revealed a wave of future leaders who have a lot to offer when their managers operate from a place of insight and openness. What does it take to make the onboarding process feel like an inspiring first week rather than a series of boring orientation sessions full of paperwork and forgettable presentations?

Helping Gen Z Thrive at Work

Businesses everywhere are rethinking their hiring strategies, mentorship programs, and workplace culture to better support and engage Gen Z. Creating an environment where they can thrive starts with understanding their values, work preferences, and what truly motivates them.

The generation born between 1995 and 2010 has been influenced deeply by technology and social movements shaped by world events such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Some of these factors no doubt contribute to findings suggesting that Gen Z encounters new challenges with engagement at work.

A November 2022 Gallup poll found that Gen Z and younger millennials are less engaged at work than their older counterparts, experience more stress and burnout than previous generations, prize career development and remote work opportunities, and seek clarity and feedback from their managers and supervisors.

How Managers Can Meet Gen Z Halfway

Avoiding interview no-shows

Well before Day 1, you can begin setting expectations by offering prospective hires electronic reminders, confirmations, and opportunities to cancel or reschedule. Include friendly but direct language explicitly outlining where and when you expect them — and how they should notify you if something changes.

Tailoring onboarding materials

Gen Z craves clarity around practices, policies and expectations. Your approach to onboarding, orienting, and training younger workers should therefore include clear, concise, accessible and well-designed information that lays out the ground rules, welcomes questions, and lets employees know where to learn more.

Emphasizing mentorship

Perhaps more than any other, this generation not only values opportunities for growth, they also want to envision where they may be headed. This quality, combined with their desire for clear communication, means Gen Z benefits tremendously from opportunities to work alongside skilled coworkers, mentors and coaches who will engage them in conversation and strategizing about their future career path. The Leeds Mentoring Program at the University of Colorado Boulder is a great example of how mentorship can become a core part of a company’s culture. The program succeeds by addressing students’ desire for genuine, meaningful relationships with mentors. By combining technology with human insight, they carefully match students with the right mentors, creating a more impactful experience.

Leveraging self-service platforms

Gen Z is the self-service-generation, with 60% of Gen Z individuals preferring self-service platforms above any other. At work, employee self-service platforms can allow employees to access, view, and manage their personal and job-related information. Self-service platforms resonate strongly with Gen Z, who prefer quick, independent solutions, but they also appeal to older generations who have embraced their efficiency in managing workplace tasks and personal time—ultimately enhancing productivity and overall job satisfaction across all age groups.

Bridge Generations with Commonwealth Payroll & HR’s Smart Solutions

At the heart of a successful onboarding experience is the ability to meet employees where they are—offering clarity, flexibility, and tools that give them what they need to hit the ground running. For Gen Z, that means blending human connection with seamless digital solutions. At Commonwealth Payroll & HR, we help businesses create a workplace where employees of all generations feel supported, informed, and empowered. If you’re looking for ways to strengthen your onboarding experience, we’d love to help—let’s connect.

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