Young workers entering the job market often seek career advice. While they might have traditionally looked to their managers for guidance, a growing number of them are turning to ChatGPT for career advice instead.
According to the latest report from Workplace Intelligence and INTOO*, 47% of Generation Z workers surveyed believe that ChatGPT provides better career advice than their own managers. In general, young workers place a higher level of trust in social networks for finding tips and tricks to advance their careers, as opposed to their line managers.
It’s not just Generation Z who are dissatisfied with their managers in this regard. Forty percent of employees across all age groups say their managers have given them “bad” career advice. As a result, workers are seeking advice from multiple sources, with a strong preference for family and friends (62%).
Receiving poor advice in the workplace has significant consequences. For example, 67% of those surveyed stated that they stayed in a job that wasn’t suitable or missed out on a promotion and/or pay rise because of bad advice.
Poor advice can also have a negative impact on employee well-being. Nearly 60% of respondents reported personal suffering as a result of following unwise recommendations. This feeling is particularly prevalent among Generation Z, with 39% stating that their mental health has been affected by poor professional advice.
It is crucial for managers to take their role as advisors more seriously and to dedicate time to guide their employees. The majority of workers expressed a desire to have more frequent discussions with their line managers about their career, but managers are often too busy to make time for them.
Managers should now, more than ever, encourage regular discussions with their teams to ensure their professional well-being and prevent them from seeking advice elsewhere. – AFP Relaxnews
*Survey by Workplace Intelligence and INTOO conducted between November 19 and December 2, 2023, among 1,600 US employees aged between 21 and 67.
