California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly)’s Post

Gen Z is increasingly bypassing traditional college and corporate jobs, favoring the internet economy due to dissatisfaction with corporate culture, college debt, and low wages. This generational shift is marked by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, with many Gen Zers exploring online business opportunities and finding financial freedom through digital platforms. As a result, the once-stable college-to-corporate pipeline is fading, signaling a major transformation in the future of work and the economy. What are your thoughts on this new paradigm?

I know I'm not the only one on here who's job or career path may have been flipped upside down during the pandemic, or even with so many layoffs in tech over the last year. I know I had to dig deep into my savings, and it's been an uphill battle to put it back with rising costs in damn near everything! I fear rising costs in housing, food, financing education, healthcare, and more will continue to build a savings crisis in America. One of the reasons I'm proud to be a part of this team, is that we provide access to no-cost financial education for students and families; access to financial services; and access to mentors, scholarships, internships, and other career-focused connections. These are critical skills that can help anyone at any age.   Yesterday, a Fortune OpEd went out, and EVERFI Co-Founders Tom Davidson and Ray Martinez share insights into how public and private sectors can work together to support students' lifelong financial well-being. I love working with these guys because of how passionate they truly are about making real changes in our world. If you have a few minutes, go read the article

“Don’t have kids in your 20s, your 20s should be for you.” BUT “don’t wait to have kids because then you’ll be old.” “The money will come back, the experiences won’t.” BUT “if you’re not saving as much money as possible now, you’ll never be able to retire.” “You shouldn’t worry about making a lot of money early in your career- it’s about experience.” BUT “if you’re not working your way up the corporate ladder now, you’re going to get behind.” “Why aren’t you investing in property? There’s no better time than now.” BUT “interest rates are so high right now, you’re better off waiting.” There’s literally NO “right” way to do things. Just do what makes you happy 💗 #work #career #family #hustle

People go where the money is... But they also go where the stability is. I grew up with two very blue-collar parents, and was the first person in my family to graduate from college. When I was a kid, college was the ONLY option — my parents' definition of success for me was getting a degree and finding a job that *needed* a degree. (I think many in my generation had a similar experience.) Recent data around Gen-Z's return to the trades has seemingly been met with a lot of surprise — but I'm not sure why? To me, it makes perfect sense. Everything is cyclical; we're all reacting to someone else's reaction to someone else's dream. 👉 Blue collar, Gen-X parents want college-educated children.  👉 Those college-educated Millennials graduate into competitive job markets, struggle to find jobs (because they're competing with everyone else whose parents wanted to give their kids the American Dream), and drown in the debt they accrued along the way. 👉 Gen-Z watches, in real-time, as Millennials struggle to pay off college loans, go through mass-layoffs in previously hot / trendy markets, and (attempt to) come to terms with the far-reaching implications of AI on knowledge work. Is it any surprise that Gen-Z would be a bit disillusioned with the American Dream, and find themselves searching for another option? One that looks like less debt, making money sooner, and longer-term stability? As our ability to forecast the future becomes increasingly inaccurate (due to rapid tech advancements/changing markets), the very concept of "stability" feels fleeting. It makes sense that the best "sure bet" one could make amid the unknowns of tomorrow would be taking debt out of the equation. (ex: WHO KNOWS, even that plumbing job may not be around in 10 years — but at least you don't have loans you're still struggling to pay off while trying to make a career pivot) I'm not sure what comes next; we're all just doing the best we can with the information available to us. One thing I am sure of, though: Being nimble & adaptable has become increasingly important — regardless of your generation or your education.

What are the implications for state and local governments? 1. Small business formation and licensing for the new online businesses. 2. Digital nomadism. 3. Power grid and other infrastructure concerns. 4. Encouraging rural enterprises to take advantage of the new online business revolution. 5. Lifelong Learning in the Post-College world. https://lnkd.in/gUfAFgug

I'm entering my second full year of #solopreneurship and although I have YET to earn my highest salary as a paid employee, I have no regrets about my decision of going out on my own. During this time, I've helped multiple women gain significant income increases (up to $50k) either through promotion or pivots into other industries, thus allowing them to improve their economic circumstances for themselves and their families. Although that brings me great joy, I also truly enjoy two things: 1) I create my own daily agenda and 2) my time is my own (I get to choose how and with whom I spend my day). I chose solopreneurship because I wanted three main things: 1) I wanted more free and quality time with my children (meaning I wanted to ask them to wait less for my attention because I was working on someone else's clock). 2) I wanted more time to celebrate the students in my school district as a school board #trustee (meaning I wanted to attend daytime student events and activities). 3) I wanted to place more energy and time in developing curriculum, networking, and helping Latinas elevate in their careers (meaning I had to prioritize and align my time for what I valued and is important to me). I say this because, in the beginning, some people didn't understand me leaving the '9-5.' It was unheard of, especially as a #firstgen and once low-income child. How could I possibly walk away from employer sponsored benefits? How could I possibly walk away from employer sponsored retirement? How could I walk away from an employer sponsored paycheck every two weeks? It definitely was scary; don't get me wrong. But, there were solutions for all of those perceived problems. Since I entered the workforce over 20 years ago, I upped my financial literacy game. I wasn't going to be the low-income child into adulthood. As a result, I learned how to make money work for me and my family, even with my smallest salary. I wasn't playing. Learning how to make money work for me, as opposed to working for money, it gave me the option to walk away from my employer. The health benefits became a line item in my budget. I'm also researching how Covered California can help me as a business owner (it becomes a business expense). The 2 week paycheck ...well that's where I had to learn to sell my service, communicate my value to individuals, companies, and organizations. This has been my STRETCH goal. Yet, everyday this muscle gets stronger. I share this because some of my clients are choosing to leave certain jobs and get p"less energy draining" jobs so that they can use that energy to focus on their business, focus on family changes, focus on new career interests, and/or are just merely burnt out. The point is - what makes sense for you, may not make sense for others - but the ability to make one's own choices and make it work for them is powerful, in itself. And, I know deep inside, my business will surpass my highest paying salary. It'll take time, which I've got.

Something else I’ve seen along the way: so much of career success is knowing how to behave at work. The usual advice is, “Just be yourself.” But this only applies if you’re a member of the dominant demographic in your workplace: a working-class man on a building site, a middle-class woman in a teachers’ staff room, a young white man in a tech start-up. Anyone else needs to learn the dominant group’s codes of dress, humour, eating etc and put them on like a costume every morning. #worklife #careerfaqs #postwork

“It started at $130K, I got it down to $72K, and now it’s at $42K…and I’m 48 years old.” My heart sank when I overheard this conversation on student debt, because I believe we have our priorities backwards. Here’s why: I was waiting for my flight back to Toronto from NYC mid-morning, latte in hand, when I heard the man behind me talking to the college-age girl and her mother beside him. Why do we continue to ask 18-year-old kids to invest 5-6 figures in a degree that may or may not land them a job when they graduate and will take years to repay? And why do we shy away from making 5-6-figure investments in ourselves, our businesses, and our careers after earning decades of experience in our respective fields? When did we get so comfortable in shelling over a huge chunk of change to an institution in our teens, yet shy away from taking a more measured, calculated risk as adults? It’s largely centered around the fear of making a mistake and subsequent fear of judgment or rejection. As a global leadership coach, executive consultant, and keynote speaker, I’ve had a front-row seat to what holds people back - even the ones at the top of their game in the C suite. I have watched countless would-be clients say “no” to making their dreams their reality, simply because they are afraid. Others said “yes” to making their dreams their reality in the face of the same fear. The only difference? The latter knows it’s safe to bet on themselves. Despite receiving previous rejections, they kept going, learning, and getting up after they fell. They knew the bet they placed on themselves would pay off. My wish for you in 2024: Leave behind what isn’t working. Trust yourself to say YES to what is working. This “Yes” could be the beginning of the rest of your life, at work, home, and beyond. Comment below with your top priority in 2024:  Career Family  Hobbies Physical  Mental Health #leadership #confidence #growth #business #performancecoach

Many thanks to Caroline Hroncich at The Financial Brand for featuring National Business Capital CEO Joe Camberato in this article about Gen Z's evolving career choices. As more and more Gen Zers get jobs in vocational professions, banks need to rethink their approach to hiring. #GenZ #hiring #highereducation #university #banks #financialservices https://lnkd.in/e8Def4uX