What is this meeting about?
Young people start out with high expectations of employers: regarding their working conditions, opportunities for advancement, and professional development. “They’re spoiled and lazy,” employers say, “At the first sign of trouble, they give up.” “Those employers don’t take me seriously,” say young people, “They have prejudices.” But meanwhile, stress among young people is rising due to disappointments and setbacks. And the number of entry-level jobs in the Netherlands is falling. That’s heading in the wrong direction.
Do young people really have unrealistic expectations? Are they “snowflakes,” the product of their “curling” parents? As an employer, how do you manage those expectations, motivation, disappointments, and stress at the start of a career?
In this conversation with Karlijn van Vredendaal, HR project manager at Jan Linders/AH (26), she shares insights from her work experience—the world of the young people who start their careers there—and explains how Linders/AH addresses their expectations. Ardienne Verhoeven shares insights based on her expertise and research into the expectations gap among young people.
