Professional development is an important tool to offer Gen Z as they enter the workforce, focusing on the unique way this cohort of young professionals learns. As digital natives, Generation Z is fluent in technology and many have thrived in remote work settings, but research also indicates they crave collaborative in-person interactions along with self-paced online learning. This is largely due to the shift in educational trends over the last decade, and especially throughout the pandemic, with teachers taking advantage of online textbooks on school-provided laptops, video lectures, breakout rooms, and platforms like Google Classroom and Meets to facilitate instruction. 

Today, we will take a closer look at Gen Z learning and development to assist employers.

Insight Into the Way Gen Z Learns

The New York Times recently reported that, for Gen Z, Tik Tok is the new search engine. This says much about the way young professionals learn — and how they prefer to acquire information. In an article published in 2020 titled What The Rise Of TikTok Says About Generation Z, Forbes asked a valuable question: “What makes TikTok so special, especially among younger users, like those part of Generation Z?” Simply put, this cohort of emerging leaders values self-expression and social awareness, and they seek out engaging, high-energy content that can be digested quickly.

The New York Times notes that, “More and more young people are using TikTok’s powerful algorithm — which personalizes the videos shown to them based on their interactions with content — to find information uncannily catered to their tastes. That tailoring is coupled with a sense that real people on the app are synthesizing and delivering information, rather than faceless websites.”

Gen Zers began to enter the workforce in 2018. As their numbers increase, companies should take note of this insightful information. It feels necessary for employers to focus on providing professional development that is innovative and includes a mix of technology, hands-on training, and individual coaching, such as the Looking Forward Lab services offered by The Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group.     

Professional Development for Gen Z

Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group, LLC delivers innovative and interactive approaches to leadership development through a multi-platform company, including Looking Forward Lab, which focuses on supporting Gen Z as they enter the workforce and provides comprehensive tools for those hiring and managing young professionals. We are harnessing the energy and passion of Gen Z by providing curated in-person and virtual cohort learning and training, online courses, and group and individual coaching via tools designed at the intersection of needs and interests. We also offer a community to network with and support each next step of learning. Visit our website for more information, or contact us today! And be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok!

Tammy Dowley-Blackman Group, LLC is a certified National Supplier Development Council Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Small Business Administration (SBA) Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Women’s Business Enterprise Network Council (WBENC) woman-owned company. The company is comprised of a suite of brands, including TDB Group Strategic Advisory, a management consulting firm, as well as Looking Forward Lab, which offers a full-service learning engagement model focused on Gen Z workplace development and support for their managers.