Because of easy access to tools and materials such as LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, TikTok, industry websites, podcasts, online courses and AI, young jobseekers ought to think outside the box.
This wealth of information should help them to reveal to the interview panels how well they understand their industries. This goes beyond navigating the platforms and technologies.
While many young people can list what is trending on social media, they, unfortunately, struggle explaining what is changing in their industry. Some know the job description almost word for word, but cannot discuss a major development affecting the sector.
It should concern people that some Gen Z candidates are not converting that flawless access to information into knowledge, curiosity and professional awareness. Access and making good use of information are two different things.
The 2026 Deloitte Gen Z and Millennial Survey, which included more than 22,500 respondents across 44 countries, found that roughly three-quarters of Gen Z and millennial respondents now use AI in their day-to-day work.
So, the bigger question should be what this number is learning and connecting it to the world of work.
You do not need to know everything, but should know something happening in your industry right now.
A candidate who has researched the industry will be able to mention a few developments, explain why they matter and perhaps connect them to the position they are seeking.
A candidate who has only prepared by memorising common interview questions may struggle.
A job interview is not simply an examination of whether someone can perform a task. It can also reveal whether the candidate is curious, prepared and genuinely interested in the profession.
This is particularly important at a time when industries are changing rapidly.
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, based on the views of more than 1,000 employers representing over 14 million workers across 55 economies, found that 39 percent of workers’ existing skill sets are expected to be transformed or become outdated between 2025 and 2030.
Analytical thinking was identified as the most sought-after skill, while AI and big data were among the fastest-growing skills.
If industries are changing that quickly, knowing what is happening in your chosen field is no longer an advantage, it is part of being employable.
A university degree can demonstrate that someone has completed a course of study, but does not necessarily demonstrate understanding of industry.
A 2025 Mastercard and BrighterMonday skills-gap report found that 62 percent of employers surveyed believed graduates lacked the skills required by the market.
Gen Zs have an enormous advantage over previous generations in terms of access to information. They can follow the CEOs of major companies, subscribe to industry newsletters, read annual reports, listen to expert interviews, follow regulators, attend webinars, use AI to simplify complex reports, and study online.
However, the challenge is developing the discipline to find the right information. Scrolling through social media for three hours is not the same as spending 30 minutes understanding your industry.
The first is consumption. The second is professional development.
And, technical knowledge alone will not get you hired since employers are looking for more, including analytical thinking, resilience, flexibility and agility.
Deloitte’s 2025 survey found that Gen Z respondents themselves identified communication, leadership, empathy, networking, time management and industry-specific knowledge among the capabilities important to career progression.
So the message is how to think, communicate and understand your industry.
Former LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner has also highlighted communication, leadership and project management among important soft skills, while pointing to digital fluency as another essential area.
A candidate may know how to use technology and excellent social-media skills but still struggle to explain an idea clearly.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has described the importance of a learning culture with a simple phrase: “The learn-it-all does better than the know-it-all.”
Nobody expects a recent graduate to know everything about an industry. What employers should see is curiosity.
If you do not know what is happening in your industry, investigate it and ask why it matters.
For employers, it would be unfair to suggest that every young person who struggles in an interview is lazy or poorly prepared. The transition from education to employment is difficult.
Generation Kenya’s 2025 alumni survey cited a global ManpowerGroup finding that around 74 percent of employers have difficulty finding skilled talent, while Federation of Kenya Employers reported that 20 percent of enterprises in its 2023 Skills Needs Survey had difficulty filling vacancies because of a lack of qualified candidates.
Employers, therefore, have a responsibility to train, mentor and develop young workers.
So, people, especially Gen Zs, preparing for job interviews should not spend a lot of time memorising common questions. Instead, they should study the industry for, among others, regulatory changes, technologies disrupting the industry, major challenges businesses are facing, and what annual and sustainability reports reveal about the big players and the new disruptors.
Read company reports and credible news sources to have something to discuss at forums where professionals meet.
Again, while it is great being confident, make sure that your interview responses show you understand the role, the organisation and its environment.
The best candidates do not necessarily know every answer, but demonstrate they know how to find answers, analyse information and learn quickly.
Young professionals ought to ensure internships, course, articles, conversations, projects and experiences add another piece to professional understanding.
The writer is an HR professional.
