your gen z co-worker – Details, episodes & analysis

"Your Gen Z Co-Worker," the podcast where we break down the workplace and focus on what matters: building well-being into your career, prioritizing life over work, and staying true to yourself.

Hosted by me (a fellow Gen Z-er who's been there, done that, and is still figuring it out); this is your space for real-talk career advice, workplace trends, and actionable insights that put you first.

From ditching outdated office norms to embracing the freedom to thrive authentically, I am here to guide and inspire you. So grab your coffee (or your snack of choice), hit subscribe, and navigate this work-life thing with me on "Your Gen Z Co-Worker."

let me take you through my career journey, reflecting on the 13 different jobs I've had - from university co-op roles to navigating the challenges and discoveries of post-graduation life. along the way, I share insights on the value of trying new things, the lessons learned from unexpected pivots, and the importance of not letting your career define who you are. this episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck, exploring their options, or seeking inspiration to embrace the twists and turns of professional life.

-- LINKS:

Find Emily:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@em.thinkhr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠

as if being a podcast host wasn't enough for me...i'm writing a book. "we're human. not resources." is coming fall or winter of 2024. this book is all about challenging misconceptions in human resources, viewing human resources from a human's perspective, and providing a fresh perspective in the workplace. i go over the book writing process and how it relates to staying true to yourself in the face of pressure, and ensuring that you embrace individuality in your career and in your life.

--

LINKS

Find Emily:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emswhynot⁠ / ⁠@em.thinkhr⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠

i'm a gen z and i bring a unique perspective on work and workplace culture. not everyone will agree with what i say or what i present. i'm constantly met with doubts, frustration, and stereotypes. i think there's a lot to learn about different generations, and gen z specifically has learned a lot about generations before them...which is why they are the way they are. i discuss and dissect the differences between the work ethics/attitudes and stereotypes of boomers, gen x, millennials and gen z.

--

LINKS

Find Emily:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emswhynot / @em.thinkhr

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠

when I talk about starting my business, my usual short story is that I tried all the other industries and in each one, I always tried to get involved in HR. but the reality is, it’s about how I was treated, the experiences I had, the bosses and co-workers that made me see the unjust, outdated bullshit that is “human resources” and “dream workplaces” and “work-life balance.” this episode goes over one of my co-op work experiences...the defining one of my career. essentially...a long-winded explanation of how I realized that holding people accountable, standing up for yourself and just being a good person was hard to find. but it wasn't until this work experience happened that I realized I wouldn’t let any of it go by anymore without saying something.

--

LINKS

Find Emily:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@think.hr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠

Katie from KDB Law has joined the chat! we took the time to dive into her story of fulfilling her dream job as a kid (spoiler: lawyer) and starting her own law firm (while she overcame fear AND people pleasing). we cover some incredible and innovative strategies to create a positive and engaged workplace, the value of a multigenerational team, embracing employees' strengths and challenges, and prioritizing support and self-care. their focus at KDB Law is: Humanizing the Experience of Law (how cool is that?!). one down-to-earth business (and owner!) in Stratford, Ontario, that you MUST get to know. -- LINKS: Find Katie: IG: ⁠⁠@kdblaw

Website: https://www.kdb.law/

Find Emily: IG: ⁠⁠⁠@think.hr⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠

after coming back from a 3-day solo camping trip...I've had some realizations. overcoming your fears = underrated. oooting your own horn = also underrated. living your life in fear and worry = not worth it. you know I'm the queen of saying "yolo" but the more I say it, the more I believe it. this is our one life. i'd rather spend it overcoming fears, pushing boundaries, and trying new things, than living in fear, worry, or stressing over imaginary scenarios. whether that means talking to your boss, going solo camping, or walking around in the dark - do it. and hype yourself up after you do.

it's easy for me to sit here and chat about taking time off right? i own my own business, i set my hours, i'm taking my first-ever solo camping trip this weekend. that doesn't mean that you can't. your paid time off (PTO) like vacation, sick days, and personal days... is part of your entire compensation package. if you aren't using them fully, you aren't getting paid fully. that's the reality of it. i discussed how to take time off, the best way to do it, a little self-check-in, and how taking a short-term leave helped bring me clarity.

--

LINKS

Find Emily:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@think.hr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠

It's time to take charge and get what you deserve. Whether you're eyeing a raise, craving more vacation days, or negotiating a job offer, remember that knowing your worth isn't just a mantra—it's essential! In this episode, I'm lifting the curtain on past jobs and how much money I made at each one, what steps to take to ask for more (money, vacation, etc.), sample wording to use, and always some extra tidbits of advice to take you to the next level.

--

LINKS

Find Emily:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@think.hr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠

Let's be super clear here. There's an obvious power imbalance when it comes to applying to jobs and I am NOT here for it. This episode tested my ability to be calm, cool, and collected, and frankly, I like it. I didn't start this podcast, business, etc. to be the cute Gen Z co-worker (although I totally am) - but to challenge the status quo. I'll discuss how I think you should apply for jobs with how you represent yourself on your resume, cover letter, etc. (with examples of how I have recently), and how companies using AI software are probably missing out on some incredible candidates.

--

LINKS

Find Emily:

IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@think.hr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.thinkhr.ca/⁠