Confidence, resilience, and wellbeing all figure highly, says Gen Z.
Research published on Friday 1st December by Nord Anglia Education, parent organisation of Dover Court International School, shows that 1 in 2 Gen Z'ers think confidence – 'the knowledge that you're capable of handling whatever challenges life throws at you' – is the most important skill for their personal and professional lives.
Nord Anglia commissioned independent research amongst 18–25-year-old Gen Z'ers living in the UK, USA, and India to better understand the key skills they view as crucial for success. Gen Z was chosen because they are the most recent generation to enter higher education or begin working in a world impacted by the pandemic and economic uncertainty.
As one Gen Z respondent said, "Life constantly throws curveballs at us. It's inevitable. But it's how we react to a situation that matters."
Which skills does Gen Z see as important at work?
When it comes to having a successful career, Gen Z'ers think the following skills and attitudes are the most important:
Confidence (51%)
Resilience (44%)
Team spirit (43%)
Problem solving and critical thinking (38%)
Mental and physical wellbeing (35%)
"In today's workplace, especially for women, confidence in yourself is essential to have your ideas heard," one Gen Z'er said. Commenting on why resilience is important, another Gen Z'er summed it up as: "It's about being able to keep going when it's hard."
The pandemic and Gen Z
According to the Gen Z'ers who took part in the research, the pandemic has meant that these attitudes are the most important to have in life:
'Looking after my wellbeing': the ability to know myself and what works best for me to help look after my mental and physical health
'The importance of empathy': understanding and sympathising with others' experiences
'Having a global outlook': understanding and appreciating what's happening in the world around me
'Problem solving and critical thinking'
'Understanding or being self-aware of how I learn best and why'
When it comes to the importance of wellbeing, one Gen Z'er said, "The last few years have taught everyone that putting yourself first is important because burnout is extremely real."
"If I can't look after my mental health, I won't accomplish anything long term," said another.
DCIS principal Richard Dyer says “It is reassuring to note that resilience, one of Dover Court’s long-standing core values, appears in this research as one of the most important dispositions for Gen-Z. Our world experiences only short periods of stability against a background of change and unpredictability and Gen-Z know this more than anyone, growing up in times of such uncertainty. School systems are sometimes slow to respond, but here at Dover Court we foster resilience, to help students face their futures with confidence and resourcefulness. In fact, all six of our core values, excellence, integrity, diversity, resilience, creativity and kindness, are chosen with Gen-Z in mind.”
"During my six years at Dover Court, I met amazing teachers and friends, who supported me mentally and set examples for what kind of person I want to be. They never hesitated to give me compliments and that really built up my confidence, supported me to reach my dream. Without the care and support of the community, I would never be who I am today." says Catherine, DCIS graduate, Class of 2022 who is currently studying Molecular Bioengineering at Imperial College.
Read more about Gen Z and the findings from the research study on Nord Anglia's website here.
About the research
The research was commissioned by Nord Anglia Education and carried out online by Kantar, the world's leading data, insights, and consulting company, amongst a sample of 1,548 Gen Z'ers (adults aged 18-25, with no gender quotas) in the UK, USA, and India, during June 2022. The research focused on skills beyond academic results.
