Australian accounting firms: recruiting new Gen Z talent and the laws of attraction

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As we start to see the next generation enter the workforce, it’s time to revisit Australian accounting firms recruiting.

Whilst many are still making comments about the Millennials (Gen Y) who were born from 1981 to 1996, it’s time to start considering recruiting strategies for the Zoomers (Generation Z) who were born from 1997 to 2012, of which the 1997 cohort are 24 this year and into their working life. For those worried they’re falling behind, the Generation Alpha (born early 2010’s to mid-2020’s) aren’t in the workforce just yet, but the youngest will be heading to high school shortly!

Back to the Zoomers (Generation Z) which are now entering the Australian accounting workforce.

As they are relatively new into the workforce, there’s a lot more unknowns than knowns at the moment.

As the first social generation to have grown up with access to the Internet and portable digital technology from a young age, members of Generation Z have been dubbed “digital natives, which means they prefer to communicate through their portable digital technology.

Members of Generation Z are spending more time on their electronic devices and less time reading books than before, with implications for their attention span, their vocabulary, and thus their school grades, as well as their future in the modern economy.

There’s going to be sweeping generalisations with this generation, but as digital natives it’s likely face to face interviews early on will be a challenge, and unannounced ad-hoc meetings unthinkable. At the same time, an unannounced phone call can also be challenging – set an appointment for a phone call, but don’t call out of the blue unless it’s an emergency.

So with all these radical changes coming in terms of how new graduates enter the market, it’s time to revisit the way in which you engage new recruits and the recruiting process. Part of the recruiting process is going to need a reverse recruiting strategy as digital native Zoomers want to find out more about the firm they’re considering going to work. What may have been in the past quite invasive, isn’t seen so much by Zoomers who have come to expect information should be relatively free and easily available online. The Accounting firm business owners are expected to be on social media (Linkedin/Facebook) and be expected to post interesting engaging content. The Zoomers will be looking, and your firm needs to be advertising in a new manner.

So the Zoomers are coming, and it’s time to revisit the way in which you’ll engage with this new generation, and this starts with recruiting.

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