5 Important Tips for Recruiters to Match School Leavers More Successfully

As a recruitment agency, it's important to understand what today's generation of school leavers, also known as generation Z or Zoomers, value when it comes to work. This helps you better match school leavers with potential employers.

We refer to Gen Z as young people who are currently at most 26 years old (born between 1996 and 2010), the generation after the Millennials.

1. Personal development comes first

Gen Z places a lot of value on a good work-life balance. Notably, this generation actually prefers working in-person over remote, largely because of their desire for personal development.

Tip: take a personal approach. School leavers need more personal guidance, regular face-to-face feedback, and communication through channels like WhatsApp, chat, and text.

2. Socially conscious

Gen Z prefers employers who are committed to sustainability, the environment, and diversity, and will sometimes accept lower pay for an employer with the same norms and values.

Tip: map out the company culture in multiple ways, for example through an interview with the client on social media or stories from employees.

3. Future plans weigh heavily

School leavers are looking for a job that matches their interests, values, and personal goals.

Tip: use the Profile Booster from Minggo and theMatchBox, which automatically asks new applicants which job titles and skills do or don't interest them.

4. The digital generation

Gen Z expects a modern, digital candidate experience: mobile-friendly websites, short application forms, and WhatsApp or video in application processes.

Tip: make good use of social media, especially TikTok, and make sure you respond quickly to questions through your channels.

5. Fast, fast, fast

Take no more than two weeks for the entire process: applying digitally via an app, being able to schedule appointments themselves, and a recruitment portal to prevent the candidate from dropping out.