Recruiters are often accused of forcing young people through endless rounds of job interviews and tests—but Gen Z doesn’t always make it easy on itself either.
One millennial boss complained that there’s “nothing quite as humbling” as sifting through job applications from the newest generation.
Amy Gastman, owner of the plant-based bakery Eat by Amy in London, recently used TikTok to advertise that she was hiring a baking assistant.
Three days later, she returned to her channel to slam the bizarre résumés and covering letters she got in response. One woman wrote that she was “having a brat girl summer” in her application.
“What? I don’t understand,” Gastman told her nearly 700,000 viewers. “What do you mean you’re having a brat summer? Why have you put that in your CV? I’m so confused.”
Another 23-year-old hopeful hire noted in her application that she is an “avid Harry Styles enthusiast with a superpower of being able to manage getting tickets to a sold out concert”—at “face value,” no less.
Others used no capital letters or punctuation in their letters, and openly admitted to having no baking skills or experience—despite it being necessary for the role. Some signed off with smiling or winking face emojis.
Some of Gastman’s followers didn’t think the applications were genuine. So she did two follow-up videos with screenshots of the applications in question.
“Now whilst I’m sure all these people are good vibes, this is just not the kind of thing that I want when you’re going to send me CVs and cover letters,” she concluded.
“I need some level of professionalism. Like, we don’t know each other. I am going to be using my money out of my business to pay you so you have to convince me that that is a good idea.”
Fortune reached out to Gastman for comment
Gen Z struggles with the unwritten rules of work
Complaining that young workers don’t understand the unwritten rules of the working world is a tale as old as time. Every generation complains about the one beneath it. But Gen Zers have devised novel ways to test recruiters’ patience. Among them: Refusing to do aptitude tests, submitting unrealistic lists of demands, and then failing to show up for interviews.
Once they’ve gotten the job, Gen Zers have been accused of dressing unprofessionally and not knowing how to act appropriately for the office. But at least they showed up. A few have ghosted their new employer on the first day of work.
Bosses are often just as poorly behaved. Some have admitted they’re expecting Gen Z hires straight out of college to be up to par with their wider workforce, despite their lack of experience.
Six in 10 employers are simply firing some of their new hires after just months on the job, instead of training them.
And research shows employers are just as guilty of ghosting their job candidates as are Gen Z workers.
Young people say their attitude is a reflection of how they’re being treated by employers in the job market. One of the most-liked comments on Gastman’s video says, “My generation has stopped taking the job application process seriously because it does not take us seriously the vast majority of the time.”
Another agreed that it’s a “two-way street”.