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.

The move is in response to both the current COVID-19 pandemic and their findings from a new survey of Gen-Z, which found that half of the respondents were confused and concerned about their futures.

Rapid response

With the advent of school closures, cancellations of careers events and a rapidly evolving recruitment landscape, Fledglink have quickly responded by developing a timetable of online learning sessions. These provide 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 exacerbated for our young people, it is vital that we do all we can to provide meaningful and accessible content. Not only to 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.”

The announcement of an extended lockdown by the Government on 16th April coincided with Fledglink’s release of the results of an extensive survey of 1,131 young people in 2020. Of those Gen-Z surveyed, 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.

Looking for guidance

Parents are still seen as the biggest influencers when it comes to guidance, with 52% of respondents saying that they would go to their parents first for advice about what to do in the future. The uncertainty the current pandemic will have on the future of employment for young people mean it is now vital that appropriate careers advice is available to avoid 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 them still 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.” 

On-demand events

Fledglink’s live and on-demand timetable of virtual events provides young people with the opportunity to access specifically tailored early careers information. The timetabled days provide a personalised structure that Gen-Z can jump in and out of at convenience. 

There are plenty of opportunities for young people to connect, upskill and build confidence in their futures – including 1-to-1 coaching, clinics, recorded and live workshops and wellbeing sessions. There is also the opportunity to interact with recruiters and employers, learn about career paths from inspirational characters, develop new skills and improve their overall employability. 

The timetable is easily accessible from the Fledglink website Instagram page. For free access to all Fledglink’s digital resources, Gen-Z can also download and sign up to the mobile app