They are more interested in flexible working times than in a traditional career path. In a large-scale survey on “Generation Z” and “Generation Y,” Audi investigated what young IT experts would like an employer to offer. The development of piloted driving, digital services and the smart factory of the future are more important than ever. The Ingolstadt-based automobile manufacturer is increasingly supported by these sought-after specialists.
“The transformation of Audi into a premium digital car company is also changing the way we work,” stated Joachim Kraege, Head of Organization and Consulting at AUDI AG. “In addition to graduates in engineering and business management, IT experts are increasingly influencing our corporate culture. This is why we have now for the first time analyzed in detail what drives and interests young specialists in this field. What they would like Audi to offer as an employer.”
For this survey, Audi polled almost 5,000 members of “Generation Z” (born in or after 1995) and “Generation Y” (1980 to 1994)
The company mainly surveyed its own employees, trainees, bachelors and masters students, persons on dual courses of study, and interns. But there also are responses from almost 900 external students. In a separate evaluation, a comparison was made of the information received from students and graduates in IT, engineering and business management.
The results show that far fewer young IT experts than engineering and business-management graduates plan to pursue a career in management. 41 percent of the surveyed business-management specialists and 39 percent of the engineers look forward to a traditional management career with the associated responsibility. The proportion of informatics students and graduates is only 32 percent.
However, the desire for highly flexible working models is particularly strong among the Generation Y and Z IT experts. Unlike the other groups, they place much less importance on clearly separating their working and private lives. 43 percent of the surveyed IT specialists would like to have completely flexible working times. This is attractive for only 29 percent of the business management specialists and 30 percent of the engineers.
This survey will help Audi with the further development of its working models
The Human Resources department will use the results in various future projects. In many areas, the changes desired by the young IT experts are already underway. With regard to mobile working, for example, the company has offered its employees the possibility to work independently of location and time of day since 2016. Mobile work is possible in different places, both for full days or several hours at a time.
Audi also offers its young talent exciting career prospects beyond the traditional path into management. For example, employees can enter management along a specialist path without having leadership responsibility. Audi recently revised its personnel selection and development for management together with the VW Group. So employees now have more individual responsibility. The focus is not only on the working context but also on the candidates’ varied activities and the personal development.
The #AudiA5 limited edition: with Santa seats. ? pic.twitter.com/KO51V4DhnT
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