EAE News
-
Start Today - Matching!
“Nestlé Challenge: Generation Z — Ready to Welcome You”
10 de June de 2021
If you were born in the 21st century, two things are clear: you’re a full on digital native and you’re getting closer and closer to entering the labour market. Generation Z’s distinguishable feature is having been born with a screen —or several— in their hands. Contrary to their parents or older siblings, they didn't have to go through the adaptation process from the analog world. If you’re a digital native, your way of seeing things is and will be different, also when it comes to work. And, here at EAE, we want to know more about your way of understanding the world in order to walk by your side through this journey.
During the global pandemic, most workers have had to understand the mechanics of working from home along the way. We could say that the office has expanded — its walls are now virtual and the whole world can be part of it. This doesn’t scare you because you’ve grown up in this ceiling-less and wall-less universe. But, bear in mind that the office hasn’t ceased to exist. Gradually, normality is coming back — yet, it will never be the same normality again. The employment trend moves towards dispersion, made easy by home online working. Our workplace is —and will remain to be— both physical and virtual. This trend becomes stronger with the insertion of Gen Z into the labour market and it will, most certainly, see some renovations that will have the unmistakable signature of the young.
“Everything is online today. That’s why we need disruptive and innovative ideas from the 100%–digital generation. We want to know what it is that you’d like for your onboarding plan”. This proposition, presented by Alba Salas —from EAE’s Professional Careers team—, is the core of the unusual challenge presented by Nestlé and EAE for future undergraduate students. A Business Challenge that focuses on new academic leaders —i.e. you—.
Onboarding: The Challenge of Virtuality
The challenge: putting yourself in the shoes of those in charge of onboarding and design initiatives that will improve the integration of new interns; making newcomers —you, soon enough— feel part of the company, fostering commitment and helping them develop their capacities from the get–go. All of this while also taking into account the problems that arise from a virtuality that has been forced onto everyone by the pandemic.
This initiative took place on May 15th and it was a great example of the potential and eagerness of the soon to be university students: a generation that was born well into the digital era, comfortable with screens and virtuality, but aware of the need to give the new work environments a soul. In response to the loneliness of the onboarding employees, who are new to the whole company structure, creative solutions arise — and they let us see the interests, worries and assets that the new generations are bringing to the game.
The SIMS as Inspiration
The first prize, 21 years old Samuel Bleda, has a clear vocation: “I’m Team Marketing all the way”, he points out. So much so, that he didn’t hesitate on joining the EAE and Nestlé Challenge and getting his hands dirty. “Let’s play”, he said. Samuel, who is getting a Higher Education Certificate in Marketing and Advertising, proposed —besides a complete digital welcome pack and a mentor or department head to oversee the interns’ first steps— establishing a virtual company. Yes, something like the SIMS; a platform that recreates the physical characteristics of the work environment that we miss on the online onboarding. Games as a tool and as a philosophy: an attitude to improve the adaptation to the work environment and to encourage everyone to give their best. I’m sure this connects with you.
For Samuel, being able to take part in a challenge put forward by such a big company like Nestlé is an honour. A thought shared by all participants, since it allows them to see, from the inside, the challenges that current HR teams are facing and it gives them tools to improve their own employability for the years to come.
The Person Behind the Screen
Paula García Ruiz proposes a strategy based on cooperation. She designed a complete immersion programme for those who have recently joined the team. We’re talking about an app that has different levels that you have to pass in order to acquire qualification of potential. “There’s a tool through which you can communicate with people who are on the same level. It’s all about helping each other and being there for each other in order to pass each level”, she points out. By the time all levels are cleared, the new employee’s integration is understood to have been successfully completed.
Thanks to these types of challenges, Paula adds, “you go through interesting experiences, you meet people and you make yourself known”. Networking is one the most important tools for a future professional and students are aware that understanding the way their future work environment works is as important as knowing how to contrast ideas with their workmates.
Along these lines, María Martínez Espinosa —from Escuelas Pías de Caldas de Montbui— chooses to strengthen the bonds inside the company with, for example, a virtual coffee that would make it easier for new incorporations to access the work dynamics. The goal is “to get to know the person behind the screen”. Because it’s not true that Gen Z dislikes physical contact.
Nestlé gave a very positive appraisal of our students’ creative and diverse proposals. They saw high potential in them and a strong professional attitude. At EAE, we can’t do anything but take note of the presented onboarding trends and to follow these young ones’ development very closely. Their skills are nothing but a glimpse at the great professional future that’s awaiting them.
