Future of Job Applications: 3 out of 5 Gen Z Thinks it's the End for Resumes

Gen Z’s influence on career trends is growing by the year. The generation born between 1996 and 2012 is becoming increasingly prominent in the global workforce. Gen Z is expected to make up 27% of the global workforce in 2025, while it was anticipated they would overtake Boomers in the workforce during 2024.

The preferences, priorities, and career pathways of Gen Z workers clearly matter. So what can we learn about the future of job applications from Gen Z? According to a new study from CVwizard.com, the way Gen Z employees are approaching their careers, and their attitudes toward job applications, means the future of hiring could look very different.

The study reveals new insights into how Gen Z search for jobs:

• Gen Z are embracing digital tools such as online job boards and social media.
• Doubts are emerging about the future usefulness of traditional resumes and cover letters.
• Gen Z are open to adopting AI and other tech to aid their job search and applications.
• Despite experiencing issues with job search tech, Gen Z are well positioned to take advantage of this new digital hiring landscape.

Read on for more key insights on how Gen Z are shaping the future of job applications.

Research background

CVwizard conducted an online survey to explore Generation Z’s job seeking behaviors, challenges, and preferences. The survey included questions on the use of AI, hybrid hiring, and social media in the modern job market. To ensure a comprehensive perspective, CVwizard collected data from 1,000 respondents in the US and UK, allowing for reflection on the experiences of Gen Z jobseekers in these two key markets.

Gen Z workplace stats

With the oldest members of Gen Z turning 29 in 2025, the generation is gaining increasing experience in the workplace. The influence of Gen Z on the world of work will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years, with studies claiming it will make up 58% of the global workforce by 2030. 

Of the Gen Z respondents to CVwizard’s survey, 51% were in full-time employment, while 15% were students. A significantly higher proportion of UK respondents were students, compared to their US counterparts (20% vs 10%), while US Gen Z respondents were more likely to be in part-time or freelance work than those from the UK (28% vs 18%). These statistics show a snapshot of where Gen Z is at right now, but the reality is changing all the time, and as more people from Gen Z enter employment, the makeup of the workforce will continue to change.

How are Gen Z applying for jobs?

The entry-level and graduate job market can be an extremely competitive place. In the UK, employers have reported an average of 140 applications per graduate job vacancy, while statistics from the US show that more than 40% of recent graduates are underemployed, meaning they’re working jobs that don’t require a college degree. Gen Z are also more likely to change jobs more frequently than previous generations, with an average job tenure of just over two years, compared with five years for Gen X and eight years for Boomers.

Despite these similar job market trends between the UK and US, CVwizard’s study shows differences in how Gen Z populations are applying for jobs. Around half of all respondents had applied for between one and five jobs in the past year, (44% for UK respondents, 55% for US respondents). However, a significantly higher proportion of UK Gen Z respondents had applied for more than 20 jobs, than their US equivalents (21% vs. 12%).

Job boards dominate Gen Z job search activity

Online job boards are by far the most popular job search tools among Gen Z. Almost nine out of 10 Gen Z jobseekers used them to find their next role. The key findings on the ways Gen Z search for jobs are:

• 88% of respondents had used online job boards to search for jobs.
• 53% had searched for job opportunities directly on company websites, while 33% had used networking or referrals and 28% used social media platforms.
• Networking is a much more common job search method in the US compared to the UK. A total of 44% of US candidates used networking compared to 29% in the UK.

Gen Z is leading the way in the use of social media as a job search tool, with 28% of Gen Z respondents stating they’ve used it for job searching. Other findings around the use of social media for job search include:

• Social media is a more popular job search tool in the US than the UK. 32% in the US used social media compared to 25% in the UK.
• Freelancers are significantly more likely to use actively social media for job searching or personal branding than full-time employees, students or those not currently working (45% vs. 35%, 21% and 20% respectively).

With Gen Z playing a prominent role in the increasing openness towards freelance careers, the reliance on social media as a job search tool could be set to increase as more Gen Z employees enter the workforce.

When it comes to success in helping Gen Z jobseekers secure an interview, online job boards still come out on top, but not by such a great margin as their overall usage:

• 56% of respondents overall said online job boards had been among the most successful in helping them find a job.
• 52% cited networking or referrals, with 42% mentioning company websites and 19% mentioning social media sites.
• Both networking and social media are more successful in the US than in the UK (53% to 49% and 34% to 13% respectively), while online job boards have a greater success rate in the UK (61% to 52%).
• Networking is more successful among those without a college degree (71% vs 44% for graduates).
• Online job boards are more successful among higher graduates (70% for those with master’s degrees).

While online job boards are the go-to job search tool for Gen Z, other, more traditional methods of job seeking can still prove effective. While referrals and networking were only cited by 33% of respondents, their success rate in securing interviews was almost as high as online job boards. 

Gen Z jobseekers and CVs

Although online job boards are the most popular job search tool among Gen Z, when it comes to applying for jobs, resumes and cover letters are still the most commonly used format. Just 12% apply for roles directly using their online job board profiles, while a combined 83% use a resume or a combination of resume and cover letter.

However, despite a reliance on traditional methods of applying for jobs, Gen Z is skeptical about the future of the resume:

• A total of 62% of Gen Z respondents have doubts about whether the traditional resume will remain relevant in five years’ time.
• However, when asked what method they feel best showcases their skills, a strong resume still comes out top, with 39% of respondents choosing this option. 25% of Gen Z respondents identify work samples as the best way to showcase skills, with 13% favoring references.
• A strong cover letter is considered the most effective way to showcase skills by far more UK respondents than US (8% vs 1%).
• When asked what they would prefer as an alternative to the traditional resume, half of Gen Z jobseekers mention online job board profiles (49%).
• A further 36% believe personal websites would be a more suitable alternative to the resume, while 10% identify video introductions and 7% prefer social media profiles.

Comparing the US and UK, the most considerable difference came in preference for social media profiles. A total of 9% of US respondents preferred social media profiles, compared to just 5% of UK respondents. Conversely, UK respondents were more likely to favor personal websites (36% vs 31%).

Gen Z jobseekers and AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly prevalent in our everyday lives, and Gen Z are embracing it to help them with their job applications. According to CVwizard’s study, more than one in three (36%) of Gen Z jobseekers have used AI tools for job applications.

• The uptake of AI job seeking tools was more prominent among US Gen Zers, with 40% of US respondents stating they had used AI for their job applications, compared to 33% in the UK.
• Those with higher qualifications were more likely to have used AI than those with lower qualifications. 52% of those with a master’s degree and 39% of those with a bachelor’s degree have used AI, compared to just 28% of those with high-school level education.

• Of those who have used AI in their job search and applications, 34% had used it for help writing their resume, with 26% using it to assist with a cover letter.
• Only 12% had used AI for job searching, with 22% using AI interview preparation tools.
• Of those who had used AI in their job seeking activity, 86% found it either helpful or very helpful.

Gen Z’s hiring process experience

Hybrid and online hiring practices have grown significantly since the pandemic, and Gen Z jobseekers, some entering the workforce for the first time, are among the groups most likely to have experienced it:

• 74% of Gen Z jobseekers have experienced a hybrid or online recruitment process.
• This increases to 79% for those with a higher education qualification, while only 56% of those without a college-level education have experienced hybrid or online hiring.

Despite its growing prevalence, digital hiring methods haven’t been without their issues for Gen Z jobseekers:

• Almost half of Gen Z jobseekers have found it difficult to make personal connections with recruiters and hiring managers.
• Technical issues can affect the hiring process, with 37% of Gen Z jobseekers experiencing this (47% in the US, compared to 27% for UK respondents).
• Lack of communication can also be an issue, with 41% of candidates experiencing ghosting during a hybrid or online hiring process. This increases to 46% for women, while 37% of men have experienced it.

Future of Job Applications: Analysis

As more companies move to online and hybrid hiring, Gen Z workers have embraced digital tools for their job search and applications. Although the pandemic hampered Gen Z's education and entry into the workforce, the growth of digital recruitment methods has worked in favor of this digital-savvy younger generation.

While Gen Z’s willingness to adopt online job seeking tools may be a necessary response to wider shifts in recruitment practices, it also speaks to the ability of Gen Z to use tech to their advantage. The widespread use of online job boards, the adoption of AI tools, and the doubts over the future usefulness of the traditional resume support the notion that Gen Z are comfortable embracing technology in their job search.

The trend of digital job seeking is stronger among Gen Z in the US than in the UK, where young workers still prefer traditional application methods. Though, US Gen Z workers who use digital tools often face challenges, such as ghosting and technical issues.