The study, which surveyed 1,000 UK workers, explored how, and at what age, UK professionals learnt about interview process, revealing a clear difference between Gen Z and the generations that came before them. In fact, 40 per cent of millennials actually had to teach themselves about interview techniques, compared with just 34.8 per cent of those aged 18 or below.
With nearly half of Generation Z stating that they learnt about interview processes through education, it’s unsurprising to learn that 87 per cent of this cohort learnt about interviewing techniques between the age of 12 and 16. This is a huge increase on the 36.1 per cent of millennials who learnt at the same age, with the majority of millennials admitting they found out about these processes between the ages of 17 and 21. One in 10 millennials learnt about interview techniques between the ages of 22 and 30.
Furthermore, the findings discovered that 56.6 per cent of Gen Z workers admitted to feeling nervous before an interview, in contrast with 77.3 per cent of millennials. However, this is unsurprising as over two thirds of younger workers believe they have strong interview techniques.
Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library , comments: “It’s concerning to see that many millennials did not learn about interview processes until they were well in to their working careers, potentially having lost out on some great opportunities as a result. However, it’s positive news that the next generation of workers are increasingly being taught about these techniques through the education system, suggesting that they are entering the workforce better equipped. Perfecting these interview skills from a young age will stand professionals in good stead for paving the way for a successful career.”
There was also a clear difference in how these age groups prepared for an interview, with Generation Z placing more importance on choosing a smart outfit before researching the company. Millennials on the other hand placed researching said company at the top of their list followed by practising common interview questions.
Interestingly, despite more than double of those in Generation Z learning about interview process during education, 75.9 per cent still believe there isn’t enough education out there about these techniques. Furthermore, this number was higher than the 65.1 per cent of millennials that believe the same thing. The study also found that both millennials and Gen Z think that the responsibility for teaching job hunters these important skills should lie with the education system.
Biggins concludes: “It’s interesting to see that despite having more support than their elders, Generation Z still don’t think there’s enough information out there about interview processes. That said, the increased levels of support are clearly paying off, with more workers feeling confident in their interview techniques, and a considerably lower amount of Gen Z professionals feeling nervous before an interview than the millennials that came before them. One thing that both generations can agree on, is that the education system needs to do more to prepare job hunters for entering the workforce.”
