Generational Differences in Job Searching

Generational Differences in Job SearchingGenerational Differences in Job Searchingseek employment with all kinds of tactics and goals. While baby boomers and richtung X workers may opt for a personal touch when involved in a job hunt, millennials and generation Z employees often choose to rely more on technology. And thats only one of the differences that quickly became apparent on a recent segment of Good Morning America.Different Job Search TacticsThe piece, which brought together recent college graduates and their parents, along with experts in recruiting, noted that todays graduates get conflicting advice from family members, teachers, and peers when it comes to finding jobs.Jacquelyn Smith, director of content strategy, said in the GMA piece that the core ground rules for seeking a job are unlikely to change over time, but the way people approach those rules is always shifting.As technology evolves, as the job market shifts, as new jobs pop up- even new industries- naturally, th e process for searching for those jobs and landing those jobs is going to change as well, Smith said.For example, parents in the segment stressed the importance of considering what employers want and making sure the language children use in applications matches their qualifikation managers needs. They also recommended that their children approach employers in person, dressing like the professionals they want to be.Experts interviewed for the segment said first-time job seekers should clean up their online profiles, including good, professional photos with their LinkedIn accounts. They also suggested that grads should understand that a first job is about building relationships and being part of a team.Job Search Goal DifferencesNot all such advice applies equally to different job seekers, however. Its important to consider peoples strengths, weaknesses, and goals when recommending the best ways to hunt for employment.An article from Business News Daily points out that workers of all generations consider conditions in the labor market when seeking jobs. But when it comes to specifics about job types and search methods, differences arise.Millennials look for jobs on Monday mornings, searching in urban areas for high-skill fields like computers and life sciences, the article says. Meanwhile, gen X workers do their searches during evening hours, looking in industry hub cities for jobs in which they can use their experience and tech expertise.Baby boomers have particular interest in certain growing job categories, such as healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, as well as architecture and engineering, the article says. They prefer warmer cities like Phoenix and San Diego, and tend to seek out part-time jobs that will help them ease into retirement.While 48.4 percent of boomers said they search for jobs on a mobile device, they are far less likely to do so than millennials (73.4 percent) or gen Xers (71.3 percent).Boomers may also focus more on finding a job in which they will get along well with their colleagues, according to an article from the Beth Kobliner Company. Gen X workers, on the other hand, may focus more on money, and millennials often seek jobs that offer good opportunities for future growth.When youre still starting out, it makes sense to look at the long-term effect of your job choice- to make sure that youre learning new skills and strengthening existing ones, the article says. That means you may need to weigh a salary increase against whether this new job sets you up for the next job, and the one after that.Workers of all generations are placing more importance on the availability of flexible work options, although their reasons for seeking flexibility may differ. And all are looking for the right mix of benefits that will allow them to support themselves and their families.No matter which generation a person is in, seeking a job can be challenging and time-consuming. But by understanding your own goals and tendenc ies, you should be able to seek the advice that will be most likely to land you in the position that best fits your needs. After all, the end goal of a job search is the same for everyone, regardless of generational differences.BROWSE OPEN FLEXIBLE JOBS