It’s been a rocky couple years for new graduates, with companies increasingly looking to artificial intelligence to put out entry-level work and the labor market holding steady in a low-hire, low-fire mode.
But despite the cause for anxiety, the newest graduates aren’t all doom-and-gloom. A recent National Society of High School Scholars survey found the vast majority of Generation Z students polled — 94% — were “extremely,” “very” or “somewhat” confident about their post-grad future.
Still, new grads are aware of the environment they’re stepping into. That’s why Gen Z interns are increasingly citing old-school, hands-on experiences as among the most valuable workplace exposures they can have.
Read on for more insights into what those new to the workplace are looking for — and what employers expect of them in turn.