We Work With 20-Year-Olds - What We’ve Learned From Hiring Gen Z

Fourth of July Memories: Simpler Times and Powerful Traditions

One of my favorite parts of this podcast is hearing stories from my family—especially when those stories give us a window into a different era. Listening to Shirley and Tom reminisce about the Fourth of July before they were twelve, I was struck by how much our family traditions shaped our lives and relationships.

Back in those days, the holidays were a hands-on, all-hands-on-deck affair. Shirley recalled small, homegrown fireworks displays in the Iowa fields, fried chicken cooked in real homemade lard, and big family gatherings. It wasn’t fancy, but it was full of heart. Tom painted a picture of neighborhood families pooling their resources for communal fireworks, parents chatting over food and beer while kids hid and played in the cornfields. Safety was a loose concept, memories were made, and cake—often “sloppy cake”—was the taste of celebration.

For those of us born later, or raised in towns rather than farms, these stories brought a wave of nostalgia, reminding us not just of how things were, but how they shaped who we’ve become as people and business owners.

Generation Z: Working with a New Wave

Fast-forward to today, and those farm kids have become business owners, managers, and mentors, now responsible for hiring (and sometimes wrangling!) the next generation—Generation Z. As we discussed, Gen Z is roughly 13 to 28 years old. These are the young people who never knew a world without smartphones and high-speed internet.

What’s it like to work with them? It’s a mixed bag, but mostly a positive one. Kim, who manages at Dairy Queen, noted that this generation really wants to know why they’re doing something, not just what to do. If the “why” resonates with them, you get loyalty and hard work. They crave purpose, and when they find it, they go all in.

But there are challenges. The biggest one we see? Getting them off their phones, and helping them build those face-to-face communication skills that jobs (and life) require. The comfort so many of us had talking to customers or coworkers didn’t always come naturally to Gen Z, especially after two years of pandemic isolation during their formative high school years.

Bridging the Social Skills Gap

Does this mean Gen Z is unsociable? Absolutely not—they just need the right environment and encouragement to get out of their shells. Shirley gave a great example of a quiet cashier who, within a month of gently pushing, transformed into a chatty, confident employee. Sometimes it’s about opportunity, patience, and a little nudge—or a push out of the comfort zone.

Tom added that, as with every generation, they grow into their roles. They might “grow up” a little slower, take longer to move out or start families, but in our view, that’s not a bad thing. Society and expectations have changed. Their priorities are different, but so were ours at their age (whether we admit it or not!).

Technology—Surface-Level Mastery

It’s easy to assume that Gen Z’s technological talents are limitless. The reality? They are phenomenal with smartphones, messaging, and apps—but when it comes to more traditional “office” skills like emailing, organizing files, or using Word and Excel, there’s a steeper learning curve than you’d expect. They can figure it out with some time, but it’s not as innate as swiping through TikTok or Instagram. We need to offer patient training, not assumptions.

Bringing It All Together: Every Generation Finds Its Way

Every generation faces skepticism from the one before. We forget that the “kids these days” aren’t all that different from who we were—they just have new tools, new challenges, and new perspectives. Yes, Gen Z does things their own way, but they’re creative, cause-driven, and, above all, adaptable. I’m excited to see how they’ll shape the future—of our families, our businesses, and our communities.

So, next time you find yourself puzzled by a Gen Zer (or their phone!), remember the lessons from those old farm Fourth of Julys: bring everyone together, create space to grow, and don’t underestimate the value of patience and a homemade cake.

Make sure to listen to the full podcast episode here!