Many young employees now connect workplace struggles to skills they say were never taught at home, according to a ResumeTemplates survey of 1,000 U.S. Gen Z workers ages 18 to 29.
Two-thirds said they have been disciplined, underpaid because they didn’t negotiate, or passed over due to communication issues tied to those gaps.
Negotiation and communication remain major challenges
Forty percent said they earned less than they should have because they did not negotiate pay. Others reported missed promotions, workplace embarrassment, unclear expectations, and formal disciplinary action.
Income levels also showed differences. Among workers earning under $40,000 a year, 28% said they had been formally disciplined at work, compared to 15% of workers earning $125,000 or more.
Many say parents protected them from challenges
Sixty percent of respondents said their parents protected them from challenges more than they prepared them to face them. Nearly half (48%) said their parents frequently or sometimes stepped in to protect them from consequences growing up, including missed assignments, conflicts, or other problems.
At the same time, most respondents said they still felt at least somewhat prepared for workplace expectations.
AI and social media become career coaches
Eighty percent of Gen Z workers said they use AI tools or social media platforms at least monthly for workplace advice. Many are using platforms like ChatGPT, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn to learn workplace basics.
Professional email writing was the most common skill workers said they learned through AI or social media, followed by salary negotiation guidance.
