- Football and tennis broadcaster Chris Fowler says that during job interviews, Gen Z is too focused on regurgitating their resume. Instead of acting “entitled to have a job,” he says candidates need to focus on explaining why they are not just an “average pawn in the matrix.”
Graduation season will soon be upon us, meaning millions of Gen Zers will be on the hunt for their first real job after college. With that comes the job interviews that, more often than not, start with the daunting question, “Tell me about yourself.”
While the open-ended prompt is simple, according to ESPN host Chris Fowler, young people are shooting themselves in the foot with their answers.
“The typical answer of spouting your resume instead of telling something about your story (or) your identity is a mistake,” Fowler told millions of viewers on Instagram.
By instead expressing who you are as a person and why you would be a perfect candidate, you can highlight the skills employers truly want to hear about, like being a hard worker, critical thinker, and collaborator—and stand out in the competitive job market, he said.
“It’s your job to convince them how you can make their company better and help them,” Fowler said. “Don’t act like you are entitled to have a job as you’ve been told this is what you do. Go out and show why you are exceptional and not just an average pawn in the matrix.”
Doing so, he said, will cause the recruiter or business owner to “fall out of their chair” and secure your dream job in the bag.
Gen Z’s communication woes are holding them back—but they don’t have to
Fowler’s important reminder comes at a time when Gen Z is already struggling in today’s job market—not only because of economic uncertainty but also because of their behavior, including before a job even starts.
Nearly 1 in 3 Gen Zers reported ghosting or career catfishing employers, meaning even if they get accepted for a role, they ignore and block their new boss—betting they’ll find a better job elsewhere. Among those who do sign the paperwork and show up to work, some six in 10 employers report firing young employees due to their lack of professionalism and motivation.
However, one of the problems may be that Gen Zers are setting their own expectations too high and teeing themselves up for failure—something Fowler sees as a personal disservice.
“You don’t have to be the smartest, most creative, most experienced person. You can just have one skill that’s valued and do it well,” he said.
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Fowler singled out communication—a “lost art in all generations”—as an example.
“If you can do that and earn a reputation as being a reliable, consistent communicator, it will set you apart. You will be exceptional. Because often the only wrong answer is no answer,” he said.
“When in doubt, over-communicate,” Fowler added. “That can be your superpower.”
These two skills are the keys to success—but Fowler learned the hard way
Fowler highlighted self-confidence and humility as the two “gold” skills that can help any individual succeed, something he had to learn on the job.
“I failed early on at the humility part—big surprise. I got ripped apart in the news from my very first TV job. I had it coming. It was embarrassing, but I learned and grew from it, and helped me develop a confidence that is both durable and sturdy,” he said.
Although Fowler did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment, Fowler started his career as a local reporter in Denver before joining ESPN in 1986. Since then, he’s climbed the ranks to become one of the most recognizable voices in sports television, serving as a lead announcer for ABC’s Saturday Night Football and ESPN’s tennis coverage of the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.
Fowler’s ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith had similar—but blunt—advice for students.
“Nothing worth having is going to come easy. Be addicted to the marathon; be addicted to the work,” Smith said to students at Tennessee State University. “Don’t just focus on the results because if you get it too soon, you might not be ready for it because you didn’t appreciate what it took to accomplish it.”