n response to both the current COVID-19 pandemic and their findings from a new survey of Generation-Z which found that half of the respondents were confused and concerned about their futures – Fledglink, a Gen-Z careers mobile app – has launched an engaging timetable of free online early-careers development sessions to aide young people in navigating their next employment steps at this worrying time.
With school closures, cancellations of careers events and a rapidly evolving recruitment landscape, Fledglink has responded by developing a timetable of online learning sessions, providing an accessible way for educational services to engage Gen-Z in early careers development in the current socially-distanced environment.
Founder and CEO of Fledglink, Ellie Yell commented:
“In an unprecedented time when uncertainty about the future is being exacerbated for our young people, it is vital that we do all we can to provide meaningful and accessible content to not only ease the anxieties that COVID-19 is causing Gen-Z, but to also help in building a positive and connected post-coronavirus future for this generation”.
This latest announcement follows Fledglink’s release of the results of its extensive survey of 1,131 young people. The study found that 49% reported feeling confused and lost about their future; while 31% prioritised finding the right job and choosing the right career path as the main issue they needed to seek advice on. Parents are still seen as the biggest influencers when it comes to guidance, with 52% of respondents saying that they would still go to their parents first for advice about what to do in the future. The uncertain effects that the current pandemic will have on the future of employment for young people mean it is now more important than ever that appropriate careers advice is made accessible for all to avoid a potential further division in attainment and social class.
“As a mother, running Fledglink and juggling home-learning of primary age kids is a huge responsibility’ Ellie goes on to say. “But at the other end of the educational journey, parents have an even bigger task to support their children- who may have been expecting to sit exams in a few weeks- to still help them focus on their futures and explore their options. Our survey further highlights the pivotal role young people see their parents playing in that decision making and yet what help is there for parents to understand what the world is going to look like in 5, 10 or 15 years? We’ve created this timetable not just for young people and educational institutions, but to take the pressure off parents as well”.