AI, Gen Z, & the State of Work Relocation
I hope your summer has been relaxing. But who are we kidding? HR never rests, does it??
Here are some of the topics I’ve had on my mind this month, as I read the HR news and interact with both client companies and job seekers here at KIP Search.
How to Tell If Someone Used AI to Write Their Resume
Putting aside the ethical question of whether it’s okay to use AI to put a resume together, here are some of the tell-tale signs that a candidate has done so.
The resume sounds eerily, almost exactly like the job description
The resume reads very differently than other things the applicant has submitted, like a cover letter or even the email
You’re getting multiple resumes that look a lot alike
Using AI to put a resume together isn’t in itself a bad thing. A candidate might use a generative AI tool like ChatGPT to format their professional bullet points into resume format, but the stuff in the resume is all inherently true. AI-generated resumes become a problem when they contain lies or fabrications. So if you suspect that a resume you receive from a candidate is AI-generated, some skeptical probing might be in order.
As a recruiter for many years, the advent of generative AI in the job search isn't necessarily a bad thing, but for hiring managers, it’s something to look out for. Read more
How Gen Z Thinks About Career Advancement
Gen Z is entering the workforce at a time when nothing looks like it used to. As a result, the way Gen Zers approach their careers is unique, and in some ways, makes them stand out even from their Millennial counterparts.
While Millennials rally for remote work, Gen Z professionals are worried they’ll miss out on valuable mentorship and networking opportunities if they’re not onsite. According to Caitlin Duffy, HR Research Director at Gartner, Gen Z employees show a stronger preference than other demographics to learn from others in the office.
As a recruiting leader, this tracks. Newer professionals rely on the mentorship and guidance of their more experienced colleagues to position themselves for success in a company. And while it can be surprising to hear that the youngest workers are the most inclined to come into the office — and not a statistic I can quickly back up with numbers — it makes a lot of sense.
It’s 5 o’clock. Do you know where your Gen Z employees are?
Chances are, they’re on the way out the door. Unlike older generations who considered it a normal market of ambition so stay later, younger folks entering the workforce have a priority, and it’s work-life balance. They’re not concerned with the “performative” nature of staying until after the boss leaves.
This isn’t just my observation or my opinion. It’s becoming a cultural “fact.” One 2023 Deloitte survey found that Gen Z (and Millennials, for that matter) list “work-life balance” as a number-one factor when choosing a place to work.
How’s your workplace in this regard?
Trans-City Recruitment Is in Decline
Early 2023 saw the lowest rate of job seekers relocating to a new city for a job in history (keep in mind that “history,” in this case, only goes back as far as 1986). People who once were eager to relocate for the right gig are now saying, “Nah, it’s not worth it.”
That can make finding good talent harder for HR managers. Then again, that’s what you hire a recruiter for. As one myself — at KIP Search — this may sound disingenuous, but it’s true. When your hiring pool closed in, a recruiter can be your edge.