Yes, this is a critical recruiting point for all generations of drivers, but Gen Z applicants are even more reliant on a mobile experience. From text message interviews to single-sign-on application programs, every part of the application experience must be mobile optimized in order to hold and keep the attention of this new generation.
Even your DOT application itself should be accessible from a smartphone, without requiring any kind of PDF download. Look for mobile-accessible ATS solutions for a truly mobile-first application experience.
Unsurprisingly, industry experts agree that Gen Z workers are much less likely to continue engaging with a company that has a poor job applicant experience. This generation is used to experiencing the world through custom, personalized engagement sessions, and these expectations extend to their job hunt preferences.
A good place to start is to visualize the recruiting process from the driver’s perspective to get a grasp of how it actually works to go through your recruiting process. Try to eliminate as many unnecessary steps as possible to streamline the process.
An exciting trait of the Gen Z workforce is their excitement and willingness to learn new things. While it may seem as though the trucking industry is stagnant, this penchant for growth can easily translate into professional development.
As a CDL driver recruiter, it’s important to work with your operations team to develop clear paths for growth within your company. Whether this means new management tracks, leadership roles, or salary tiers, creating levels your drivers can work toward will entice both Gen Z applicants as well as other development-minded drivers. Strong professional development programs are also a great way to strengthen your reputation in the marketplace, as it shows you are loyal to your drivers and want them to succeed at your company.
Alongside their penchant for mobile and their affinity for Wi-Fi, Gen Zers are also comfortable giving their opinions freely, and this won’t stop with their employers. For maximum retention of your new Gen Z drivers, make sure you create new, collaborative avenues of communication between your department, management and other drivers.
Whether you build a company-specific app, where drivers can submit ideas, or have a driver-only message board, where they can engage and converse with each other, there needs to be some sort of social aspect to your business beyond a mere company-wide email every other Friday. While these communication channels are important, you shouldn’t lose sight of human interaction. Because Gen Z is an “on” generation, they will appreciate the importance of a personal phone call or conversation. Find an in-between sweet spot for maximum driver retention.