Halfway through a job interview during a grueling search, Tori Romo grew concerned. As she answered questions about her strengths, weaknesses and goals, it hit her. “I had no idea what product this company actually made,” said Romo, who is 26 and lives in New York. “Then they asked me this one question about it. I took literally five minutes to answer it, and what I said wasn’t coherent.” The employer never called her back.
Why wouldn’t Romo take the time to Google the company’s name? “Job interviews give me anxiety,” she said. Well, sure, they do for us all. Forced small talk, uncomfortable work clothes, prolonged eye contact … job interviews are stressful. But the youngest members of America’s workforce are especially floundering. As Romo put it: “Gen Z is a little awkward.”
