Hate your job? Turns out 85 per cent of Aussies are in the same boat. According to new research from LinkedIn, just 15 per cent of Aussies feel passionate about their current role — and almost half (45.8 per cent) of Gen Z are currently exploring new career opportunities.
One of them is Maddie*, a 27-year-old marketing assistant in Melbourne, who says she realised she hated her current role “way too early on”.
“Thank fuck this is anonymous because it’s embarrassing how early on I realised that this job that I manifested and literally begged for was a total nightmare,” she told PEDESTRIAN.TV. “I coped for a long time through sheer delusion — thinking that I needed to try harder or it was going to get better once the next initiative launched or that new team member was hired. If I was the problem, it meant it was in my control and I could just work harder.”
Marketing might not have been Maddie’s dream as a kid (“I wanted to be a pastry chef”), but she chose it for the more certain financial stability. “I loved being creative, but I was worried about long-term job security and wanted something stable,” she continued. “So I could move out of my parents’ house without the worry that I might have to move back in.”
And Maddie is hardly alone. Almost half (43.8 per cent) of Gen Z workers have a different “dream role” now than they did in childhood, with high earning potential, flexibility, and respectful workplaces with access to mentors the biggest elements when choosing a role.
Below, we dive into the biggest trends from LinkedIn’s research, and what it says about how we work now.
@itsashleyswain My job is draining me. But my dreams are depending on me. #workingincorporate #hatemyjob #draining #toxicworkenvironment #dayinmylife #carrant #jobcrashout #beshameless #herglowera #CorporateBurnout #HerGlow #ShamelessEra #BuildingWhileWorking #TiredButTrying #BuyingMyFreedom #PurposeDriven #MomsWhoCreate #FaithOverFear ♬ original sound – Hey It's Ashley 💕
Almost half of Gen Z have a new dream job
Hands up, who dreamed of becoming an actor or celebrity? Yeah, me too, and you’re not alone. According to the study, the biggest childhood dream jobs for Aussies were: doctor or nurse (13 per cent), teacher (11 per cent), professional athlete (10 per cent), actor (nine per cent), pilot (nine per cent). However, it’s pretty normal to not end up in your childhood role, with just nine per cent of Aussies saying they made it.
Almost 50 per cent of Gen Z now have a new dream career, with 49.7 per cent prioritising pay, 38.9 per cent wanting flexibility to work from anywhere, and 38.4 per cent just wanting a workplace that’s a) respectful and b) has access to mentors. We’re not asking for much.
@careerwithboris Finding the dream job #career #jobinterview #jobsearch #careertips #careeradvice ♬ Baile Incredible – tata
Only one-third of Gen Z have landed their dream job
From looking at social media, you’d assume that everyone is living their dream job… but to find out that almost 70 per cent aren’t? Cue sigh of relief.
The good news is that a quarter of us are already using skills from the dream job we aimed for in childhood, just in a different career. Public speaking was the most utilised skill, and you know what, maybe we did need to torture ourselves in English class after all.
@ann.dyu Isnt this like the dream of almost every girl?🥹 #modelwalk #catwalk #horsewalk #vsmodel #modellife #relatable #foryou ♬ Originalton – Slowed Songs ⭐️
80 per cent of Gen Z are thinking of asking for a pay rise or better benefits for their half-year review
Most of us were raised to not rock the boat, and just accept what we get. However, the LinkedIn study shows that Gen Z are pushing back on this idea, with 80 per cent considering asking for better pay or benefits this EOFY season. “Mid-year is a natural time for professionals to pause and reflect on their careers — to reassess their goals and consider roles that truly inspire them, perhaps even ones that echo their childhood dream,” LinkedIn’s Australian and New Zealand managing director Matt Tindale said.
However, a word of caution: don’t go into your annual review expecting a pay rise for doing your current job well. “This line of thinking leads young people to think that you should just ask for a pay rise after a certain period, especially if that’s what they believe everyone else is doing,” Gen Z career coach Soph Hirst told P.TV recently. “In reality, you should actually be asking for a pay rise if something has changed in terms of your impact on the company, whether that’s more scope, or being better at your job.”
@careercoachchloe ♬ original sound – Career Coach Chloe 🚀
Almost half of Gen Z are exploring new career opportunities
Have you ever experienced that dreaded feeling where you’ve realised you’re not in the right career? You’re not alone. According to the study, 45.8 per cent of Gen Z are exploring new work opportunities.
So, if you feel like you’re stuck in a role and need a change, this is your sign to look for a new career.
@thenutritiongirl The video i wish existed when i was scared to change careers to become a nutritionist. #nutritionist #nutritionstudent #howtobecomeanutritionist #afn #afnnutritionist #nutritiondegree #nutritionmasters #careerchange #nutritionjobs #nutrition ♬ original sound – Noah Kahan
75 per cent are looking for a new job that offers a better work-life balance
Pay attention, hiring managers. COVID-19 has changed Gen Z’s attitude towards the workplace. Now that we know work-life balance can actually be achieved (thanks to lockdown), 75 per cent of Gen Zs are looking for a job that offers the best of both worlds.
@sj.wilson is this really what people think life is about? bc thats just sad. we need a work/life balance. #fyp ♬ original sound – syd wilson
62 per cent feel burnt out by the job application process
It can feel so tedious looking and then applying for jobs, only to hear nothing back. Ouch.
Part of this disconnect comes from not knowing what you’re looking for in a role, with four in ten (40 per cent) of Aussies saying they miss out on roles because they don’t know which job roles to search for. (Hint: if you want to find out what different jobs actually entail, check out our careers-focused Insider Trading series.)
Almost all (91 per cent) of people surveyed wish it were easier to find a job that matches their passions, which is why LinkedIn has launched an AI-powered job search tool. It lets you search for gigs using vague phrases like “I want to be creative but still pay rent” (relatable).
It’s hard to know what to apply for if you don’t even know what’s out there. But now, LinkedIn says the new tool can help people “uncover opportunities they might never have thought to search for.”
Or, if you’re after a different, more curated approach to jobs, we list hundreds of dream roles in creative careers each month on Pedestrian JOBS.
“Our audience wants fulfilling roles that spark their creativity and align with their values,” Pedestrian JOBS’ Nicole Domingo said. “That’s why they turn to us to find opportunities where they can do meaningful work with brands that share the same mindset.”
@pedestrianjobs 🚨 Job Seekers: Want to be SEEN by recruiters? Upload your resume to Pedestrian JOBS and let hiring managers come to you ✨️. #socialmediaroles #pedestrianJOBS #gethired #hiring #hiringnow #creativecareers #jobsearch #jobsearchtips ♬ original sound – pedestrianjobs
So, what can we take from the study? It’s totally okay if you don’t like the career you’re in; the only thing that matters is what you do about it. Job application burnout is perfectly normal, but you’ve got to be in it to win it. You got this.
*Name changed for privacy reasons.
Image Credit: Wishyourememberme, BBC.
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