I read this survey by Concordia University, St. Paul, and it shows how Gen Zs are gradually filling up workspaces, bringing in modern trends that perhaps conflict with older generations. And while we were having this conversation, I mentioned to Emmanuel Faith that Gen Zs are a set of super-smart employees, but we could also be a handful sometimes -he agreed without dissent. You have to trust his judgment because he isn’t just an authority in the HR sphere, he manages a pool of cross-generational talents at Cowrywise, one of Nigeria’s burgeoning Fin-tech companies, with Gen-Zs being a dominant part of this team.Emmanuel Faith joined Cowrywise in 2020 as its first Lead, People and Culture, and if there was a hall of fame for Nigerian HR personalities, he has a spot therein. You should check what he wrote about being Cowrywise’s Lead, People and Culture, 500 days after he got in. But, before Cowrywise, there’s a sterling record of consolidated experiences in volunteering, internships, and working across top companies such as Unilever, Taxaide, General Electric (GE), and Dweebs Global, among others. Interestingly, there’s also a literary side to him, which is not an alter ego, but one that he admits helps him perform excellently in his career. He is a poet & creative writer and he initiated Bookathon, a community of avid readers.
He takes it up from here, sharing his experience, lessons, and tips on Gen Z’s employability, career building, work culture, and Human Resources. As a young career starter, you may not get a better vantage point of view than this if you ask me.
Winning at Cowrywise
One of the strangest feelings I have had was when I attended an event, and people asked if I was the co-founder at Cowrywise, that’s because I am quite vocal about who we are and what we do. I love Cowrywise wholeheartedly. Being the inaugural HR professional meant I was given the opportunity to build a healthy culture that we all embrace and sustain today.One of the best moments at Cowrywise was when we led the rankings of the African challenger brands, I have always been big on our employer brand, and this win sort of solidified the fact that we were building something great at Cowrywise.Before Cowrywise, my most robust experience was at General Electric (GE), where I worked for about 18 months. It was an amazing place to work and I enjoyed it there. However, there were constraints due to COVID, which affected me as I was on contract. However, during my short break, I worked with an independent HR consulting firm, carrying out an HR audit for a huge cross-sectoral Merger and Acquisition. I also took a short contract role with an investment firm, as an HR and Shared Services Manager, however, I knew I wasn’t going to stay long over there because of how toxic the environment was. It was at that period the CEO of Cowrywise reached out to me via Linkedin, after which I did a couple of interviews and I got the job.
I think the lesson to learn here is that I was a person of value and continuously sought-after knowledge. I learnt a lot at GE; it was like an ocean of knowledge, and I had different rotations across diverse divisions in HR. I also shared my journey and learnings on LinkedIn, and that enhanced my visibility. I enjoy taking up new challenges; from winning an impact award at GE to being the inaugural HR at Cowrywise, eighteen months down the line, we are doing fantastic.Ain’t we?
Being a writer and HR Professional
I read a book that taught me “you’re a person with many expressions”, The popular Leadership coach-Debola Deji Kurunmi calls it “multi-influential flow”. It is not healthy to shut down an expression of yourself because you are trying to make another one occur. Writing is communication and as an HR Professional, I write. When I was at General Electric, one of the very first projects I had to handle was managing the communications for employee engagement for our branches across the country. Basically, I had to sell an event we were having such that you wouldn’t want to miss out. We were going to have a nationwide event in Lagos and have people from Abuja and Port Harcourt join virtually and participate fully. We all know how virtual events can be different from physical events. I had to create communications that were captivating enough for you not to want to miss out on the event and I did. We recorded a 90% participation rate, the highest the company had in recent years at that time. Writing is an expression that helps me communicate well. If I cannot write in a way a layman can relate with as an HR professional, then there’s a problem. Our content writers and growth marketing managers at Cowrywise consult me many times whenever there’s content or copy to write, which makes me even more valuable to the company. I also think we all should have that place where we retire to; for some, it’s football, music, chess, and for me, it’s creative writing, poetry especially.
Gen Zs launching into the Career Space
Being a Gen Z isn’t a crime. You are well-positioned to explore the array of opportunities you have access to. If you’re young and launching into the career space, be valuable. Secondly, be willing to learn, and lastly, do not doubt yourself. You can know a whole lot and get to a place where you realize you still have a lot to learn. Let me tell you about my experience at Cowrywise: I used to design a lot of PowerPoint slides. It’s probably my strongest Microsoft Office skill, and people brought theirs to me to design for them. I used to do a lot of it at General Electric. However, when I designed my first PowerPoint at Cowrywise in 2020/2021, my CEO was not impressed. It was too wordy, and I had to rework the presentation which was later approved. It was fantastic and people received it well. Sometimes, in 2022, I had to make the same presentation again and my CEO disapproved of the same design he had commended a few months before. Growth is a continuous process, it isn’t stagnant. Sometimes growth is learning new things, sometimes it is getting better at current skills and competencies or doing a task in a better and more efficient way. I had to learn how to use keynote because we use Macbooks at Cowrywise. When I compare the designs I have done over the years, I see obvious growth. No matter what you know, there is still room for learning. It may not be knowledge linked to your field, but you have to learn. Do not sulk when corrected, even if you are corrected on how to write a letter.
And do not doubt yourself. Yes, there are days you will have to lock yourself in the restroom and cry. But do not let it affect your self-esteem.
On Internships
I wrote my first ebook Chronicles of an Intern in 2019 after my internship in 2018. I noticed there was no manual or guide for interns, unlike the many materials out there for graduates looking to get jobs. So I had to learn a lot of things myself as an intern at Taxaid, and I imagined what life would be like for other interns who didn’t have a proper guide. That was what led me to write the book and it was an exciting book; it received a lot of feedback, especially from Interns and recent graduates.
The book shows you how internships can be a pedestal to building your career. One of my favorite parts is where I asked some of my friends who interned at Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and other big places to share their experiences. I recommend the book to any intern right now.
There’s a difference between when I interned and now…
There’s quite a difference between the period I interned and now. One, there is now a lot of career fluidity, and two, there is more globalization. I know two people who resumed HR summer analyst positions at Bank of America (I prepared them for their interviews). In 2019, there were no analyst positions in the HR division at Bank of America because I desperately wanted to work with their HR team there at that time. But this is 2022 and things have changed, and undergraduates have more opportunities.
Let’s even talk about Cowrywise: two years ago, we didn’t have undergraduate interns, but after we launched our ambassadors’ program last year, we started absorbing interns. So, there are more opportunities now, and fluidity; the two analysts I know at Bank of America are studying Sociology, not a course related to HR. ASUU is on strike in Nigeria but they are in London, learning and enjoying global accessibility.
There is a little challenge though
I’d explain. In 2016, Goldman Sachs was going to recruit interns in Africa, and those of us interested had to go through SEO Africa. SEO Africa is like a bridge between schools and the corporate world; they train young talents and these big companies come to hire those they trained. So, Goldman Sachs had reached out to SEO Africa for 40 undergraduates from Africa and they were going to pick from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, and some other countries where they (SEO Africa) have branches. Now, let’s narrow it down to Nigeria and Ghana: Ghana has a population of 30 million people and Nigeria has 200 million, and let’s assume 30 percent of these populations are undergraduates. The ratio is not balanced.
The point is that we are disadvantaged by numbers. Are internships available? Yes, are they accessible? Yes. But 60 people chasing one opportunity is not feasible. Thankfully, globalization has helped. If Goldman Sachs will not take you, you can apply to JP Morgan, Bank of America, Meta, Microsoft, and some other companies. Meta and Microsoft did not recruit from Africa years ago, but we now have that advantage. Our continuously growing population might pose a challenge, but as we access more global opportunities, a continuous pipeline of talent is created.
The Power of Linkedin
It’s quite interesting really. When people used to say you can get a job via Linkedin, I honestly never paid attention. I just felt that Linkedin was a place to meet people and make connections. You can connect with anyone anywhere with a simple search. I just never imagined that I could get a job via LinkedIn. But it was crucial to my current role. But beyond that, Linkedin gives you a lot of exposure really. In fact, getting a job via the platform was not the peak for me, the biggest thing was being invited to be a co-questionnaire at BBC UK Studio virtually.
The gist: it was international women’s day and I’d written this Linkedin article on gender inequality in the workplace, and used the necessary hashtags. It caught the attention of a reporter from BBC UK; she reached out to me and asked that I come on board as a co-questionnaire on the program. The program had Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Mary Robinson and I was the only African on the panel. Linkedin is one potent place for discovery and career development and despite the perceived noise and “oppression” going on there, it is a goldmine with overflowing treasures of diverse opportunities.
What Gen Zs need to get right when applying for jobs
One, don’t make applications in a hurry. Don’t rush things. If you’re going to make one application per week, let it be one solid application. Don’t send the same application for Cowrywise to PiggyVest, and then to Money Africa. Be very patient.
Two, don’t be entitled! I remember we recruited for a product design role this year, and there was this applicant that sent horrible feedback. You don’t have to talk back to people rudely because you weren’t offered a job. People had applied to Cowryswise, didn’t get in, but got called later. And I have personally referred people I interviewed but didn’t offer employment, to another recruiter. Sometimes you are good, but you don’t fit into the role at that place and at that time. Do not feel entitled when a company rejects your application.
Gen Zs coming into HR
If you’re young and coming into the HR role, you have to learn to be patient. You should realize you are dealing with people like you and you have to be “above them”. This is what I mean; when there is a conflicting situation, as an HR person you should be above board. I think you should read On Managing People and On Managing Yourself by Harvard Business Review. Of course, you have to learn other competencies in the field, but firstly, learn how to manage yourself and how to manage people.
Bottom Line
Undoubtedly, Gen Zs occupy more positions in companies, and the culture is changing. You don’t even have to apply to some roles before you get it, just like how Emmanuel Faith got into Cowrywise. If you’re looking to start your career, switch careers, or get into hiring and employee management teams, you should get acquainted with the new work culture and trends.
You should also read our articles on getting into in-demand tech jobs, adapting your CV and achievements to the needs of an opportunity, and 22 strengths and weaknesses for a job interview.