Entrepreneurship, management, responsibilities… What do Generation Z want at work? Are his aspirations so different from those of his elders? What do they think of salaried employment, entrepreneurship or even the 4-day week? Throughout the summer, L’Express interviewed students, work-study students, employees and even civil servants about their relationship with work. A series of testimonies published on our LinkedIn page.
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Suzanne, 25 years old, asset manager/real estate asset manager (CDI)
“Having a position of responsibility doesn’t scare me. It involves knowing how to handle pressure. But it’s not something that scares me, on the contrary it’s challenging.”
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Nicolas, 19 years old, kitchen apprentice
“I would like to open my restaurant and be my own boss, so employment is not my goal, but it is a crucial step in a professional career.”
Paul, 20 years old, law student and employee of a law firm (permanent contract)
“Teleworking is good but in small doses. I am more efficient when I work away from home.”
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Camille, 20 years old, business school student
“It’s nice for me to organize my teleworking day the way I want, but the lack of contact bothers me.”
Lucas, 22 years old, civil servant
“Status and team cohesion are essential for me.”
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Camille, 22 years old, political science student
“A day or a day and a half of teleworking per week would suit me. This is what I learned from my school experience during confinement. It allows me to have more time and it is more ecological.”
For years, work has been losing its importance in the lives of the French. Throughout polls and surveys, this disaffection, accentuated by the Covid crisis, is obvious. To the great dismay of companies: how to recruit and retain employees who condition their commitment to new, often contradictory, aspirations? Some want to be better involved in management decisions, but refuse to move up the ranks. Others call for more collective spirit, while favoring teleworking. A puzzle of which L’Express explores the issues and consequences on the country’s economy and its social model. Discover our file here.