Gen Z and the New Reality of Job Searching in the UAE

Gen Z is rewriting almost every rule we thought we understood about work. Their relationship with careers, technology and personal expectations is unlike anything we have seen before, and nowhere is this more visible than in the UAE. For employers, recruiters and families, it can feel like a confusing landscape. For young people themselves, it can feel overwhelming.

The biggest challenge I see today is the disparity between expectation and reality. Gen Z is ambitious, creative and driven. But they are also heavily influenced by social media, online success stories and their peers. The narratives they consume often promise fast-track careers, high salaries and job titles that sound impressive but do not match their current level of experience. So when they graduate and enter the job market, the collision is jarring. The world does not reward entitlement. It rewards consistency, developing skills and willingness to start somewhere, even if that starting point is not glamorous.

I always advise young people to get as much work experience as they can. Any industry, any role, any exposure. It all counts. I have seen candidates transform their confidence and employability within months purely by stepping into environments where they had to learn quickly. Gen Z has incredible potential, but potential only becomes value when it is applied.

What makes this generation different is their resourcefulness. One of our community members found Club.Genie through TikTok. They had followed someone who shared their job search journey and discovered our Walk n Talk sessions. I found that fascinating. For years recruitment felt dominated by LinkedIn, job portals and referrals. Gen Z is now opening doors through social platforms, online communities, Discord groups, micro-influencers and digital spaces that were never considered traditional pathways. They are not waiting for opportunity to come to them; they are actively seeking it through creative means.

Another significant shift lies in how they approach pay. Their expectations are shaped by online content rather than the market they are entering. I hear numbers regularly that simply do not align with industry benchmarks for entry-level roles. And while ambition is healthy, unrealistic expectations can sabotage their own progress. Companies reject candidates who price themselves too high. They lose opportunities before they even begin. Sometimes expectations discourage employers from interviewing them at all.

This is why clear guidance is essential. They need real information, not Instagram reels claiming that anyone can earn 20,000 AED a month from day one. They need mentors, communities, support and environments that ground them. This is part of why I built Club.Genie. Young people benefit from face-to-face interaction with professionals who can advise them truthfully, encourage them and help them navigate a competitive market.

What I admire most about Gen Z is their heart. They care about purpose. They want work that aligns with their values, that feels human, that allows them to contribute. They are sensitive to culture, awareness, inclusivity and mental health. These are strengths, not weaknesses. But they need to learn balance, to understand that the foundation of a career is often not glamorous. The early years require patience, humility and resilience.

Employers should not underestimate this generation. With the right nurturing, they are loyal, innovative and capable of extraordinary results. But they do need clarity. And they need guidance that meets them where they are: online, connected and looking for transparency.

The job market has always evolved, but Gen Z is accelerating that evolution. They are not afraid to challenge old structures. They are not afraid to ask why. And if we guide them correctly, they will reshape the workforce in ways that uplift all of us.

// Nicki Wilson, Managing Director Genie Recruitment