The protection sector needs talent from Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) to move forward.
But scaremongering about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing human beings is eroding this generation’s confidence to even apply for roles as entry level jobs disappear, the audience at Protect Z heard.
Presenter and influencer Emily McCarthy (pictured centre left) told delegates about her career to date which initially included a stint working for Santa Claus in Finland before going to university where she made the decision to drop out.
That decision was reversed however, when she decided to take a spoon and a £2 microphone she bought from Amazon out on campus at the University of Exeter to ask her peers about their favourite place to go in Exeter.
The resulting TikTok video was viewed by half a million people and set McCarthy on a career path which has seen her work on the launch of TikTok Shop, appear on radio, join Henry the Hoover on a road trip around the country and cover the FA Cup final.
Rejected for every graduate job
But when asked by Health & Protection about what the protection sector can do to build the talent pipeline of the future as AI increasingly replaces people and the Milburn Review indicating that entry level jobs are disappearing, McCarthy revealed she was rejected for every graduate job she applied for.
“I would not be sitting in this room if it was not for access to social media and wouldn’t be in this job if things hadn’t taken off for me the way that it has had,“ McCarthy said.
“In any sort of entry level job, it is so hard getting those jobs.”
But McCarthy added that “scaremongering” around AI replacing human beings is leading some young people to not even bother applying for roles.
“You can show how AI will be used, but AI isn’t a personality. It isn’t going to convince anyone. Our generation knows the most that AI isn’t really used to really help with genuine, authentic connections,” she continued.
“We’re also experts in AI. We know it might take our jobs, but also we know what it’s doing, when an email is AI and when a LinkedIn post is AI.
“Gen Z needs to be asked, what can we do that isn’t AI? Also we can teach companies why AI isn’t us.”
Protection needs Gen Z
Fellow panellist Robyn Fowler, member communications consultant at The Exeter (pictured furthest left) added it was vital younger people were represented in the sector.
“For the industry to move forward you have to bring in the next generation. The world is changing, but so are the new people coming into the industry,” she said.
“There has to be people to represent these consumers.”