Why Electrical Distribution Meets Gen Z's Workplace Expectations
You might still think of Gen Z as the kids doing TikTok dances and playing Fortnite, but did you know that by 2025, Gen Z will make up 27% of the global workforce? As Gen Z starts to enter the workforce in higher numbers, do you know what your new co-workers look for in a workplace and how they work best? To find out, we talked to three of our interns to see what is important to them, what they’ve discovered through their internship and why electrical distribution is an attractive industry for more people their age.
WHAT GEN Z LOOKS FOR IN A WORKPLACE
While Millennials remember a time where you couldn’t talk on the phone while browsing the Internet and Gen X remembers life without the Internet, Gen Z has barely known a world without smart phones and social media. They’ve grown up adapting to new technology and new ways of learning and communicating. How does that affect what they expect from a workplace, and what should companies know about recruiting Gen Z?
Ashley Mink, Van Meter’s business intelligence intern from Cornell College, said flexibility is important for Gen Z. Whether it’s flexible time off policies or paid parental leave, they can see what other companies offer on social media and expect to receive the same benefits.
Because of that, Blake Hall, a sales support intern from Iowa State University, thinks it will be hard to recruit Gen Z without offering a hybrid work schedule. “Everyone is figuring out you can actually do a lot of stuff from home, and it will be harder to convince people that what they are doing has to be done in an office,” he said.
“For me, it’s a balance between making me figure it out and giving me the tools to actually do that.”
– Ashley Mink, Business Intelligence Intern, Cornell
It’s more than flexible scheduling though. Flexibility from leadership is also important to Gen Z. Mink thinks a good leader should cater to how each person learns best. She said, “For me, it’s a balance between making me figure it out and giving me the tools to actually do that.”
Jack Sauers, an industrial sales intern from North Dakota State University, added that constructive feedback is also important. “A leader should be open and willing to tell you what you need to work on. If you do something wrong, they can show you what to do better instead of getting mad or shutting you down.”
WHAT GEN Z HAS LEARNED ABOUT THE WORKPLACE
They might have had an idea of what they wanted out of a workplace, but their internships have helped them discover other aspects of company culture that are important to them too. Van Meter is 100% employee owned, and while Sauers still has another year of college, learning about the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for retirement has been eye-opening.
“The ESOP really separates Van Meter from other places,” he said. “For a kid coming right out of school, if you enjoy this place and stay here, you’ll get rewarded in the long run.”
“People here generally care about you and want to see you succeed.”
– Blake Hall, Sales Support Intern, Iowa State University
While hybrid work schedules are important to Gen Z, there is a lot they can gain from being in the office too. Hall has enjoyed interacting with and learning from the people around him because they are invested in his growth. “People here generally care about you and want to see you succeed. You don’t have to go out of your way to talk to someone. They’ll stop and see how you’re doing,” he said.
This internship is Mink’s first job, and she has more freedom than she expected—both personally and professionally. She had to take a half-day off for a doctor appointment and was surprised when it didn’t bother anybody. “Even though I’m an intern, they really emphasize the balance between your personal life and your work life,” she said.
She’s also enjoyed the freedom to grow in her role by figuring things out and making mistakes. “If I have to spend a little extra time on something to figure out how to do it right, I know [my leader] won’t be mad at me,” she said. “Even if I still get it wrong, he’ll be happy I tried to figure it out for myself.”
WHY GEN Z FITS IN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION
Why would Gen Z be interested in working in electrical distribution? As Hall put it, “There’s something for everybody.”
If you work at an accounting firm, everyone you work with is probably an accountant too, right? At an electrical distributor, there are accountants, engineers, salespeople, copywriters, delivery drivers and more. There are opportunities to work with diverse groups of people in other departments and even more opportunities for career mobility and advancement.
There’s also a lot to learn in an industry that changes as quickly as the world Gen Z grew up in. Where else can you find everything from robotics and smart machines to solar panels and electric vehicle chargers? For Sauers, it’s exciting to do something different every day.
“There's always some new technology to learn about and new challenges to figure out.”
– Jack Sauers, Industrial Sales Intern, North Dakota State University
“I don’t like to be stuck doing the same thing, and there’s always some new technology to learn about and new challenges to figure out,” he said.
HOW TO GET STARTED IN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION
What can Gen Z do to find a role in electrical distribution? Sauers thinks his generation isn’t always proactive about making their own path, but his advice is to “Take that leap and go for it.” Whether you are interested in sales, marketing, finance, IT or something else, visit Van Meter’s careers page to find the perfect role for you.