Hard work or luck and connections? What do teenagers think is the recipe for professional success?
- A survey commissioned by Santander Bank Polska for the Finansiaki project shows that for 54% of younger and 65% of older teenagers, professional success is synonymous with high earnings.
- One in two teenagers surveyed believes that hard work helps to achieve career success.
- Almost 40 per cent of teenagers aged 12-15 and more than half of those aged 16-18 rate the development of artificial intelligence as a threat in the job market.
Earnings as a determinant of success
A high salary is a career-building priority for young people. More than half of teenagers aged 12-15 and 65% of 16-18 year olds believe that a high salary is the definition of career success. However, the younger ones (12-15 year olds) value a job they are passionate about just as much as older (16-18 year olds) value a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.
On average, one in five teenagers, regardless of age, perceive a high position and good relationships with colleagues as success. Older teens also value work-life balance far more than younger teens (26% of older teenagers vs. 6% of younger teenagers). The smallest number of all respondents, just 5%, were of the opinion that professional success means recognition and fame for them.
However, the road to success is not easy – almost one in two teenagers surveyed believes that hard work helps to achieve career success. For 40% of respondents aged 12-15 and 56% of teenagers aged 16-18, self-improvement and personal development are also important. The third most important career success factor for all respondents, regardless of age, was the ability to manage stress (32% of younger and 39% of older teenagers).
Almost 40 per cent of teenagers aged 16-18 believe that setting clear goals and being able to seize opportunities are helpful in achieving success at work. In contrast, interestingly, almost one in four teenagers aged 12-15 believe that career success is primarily down to luck.
Younger participants (12-15 year olds) were almost twice as likely as the older ones (16-18 years) to point to family support as an important factor on the road to success. One in four teenagers believes that acquaintances are most helpful in achieving career fulfilment, while background and appearance were found to be least important.
The belief that high earnings are important in life and are a proof of success can be linked to highly materialistic attitudes. These days teenagers are increasingly focused on money. However, it is worth noting that materialism can be associated with a variety of problems, for example, lack of money saving skills or inability to manage finance properly, so it may ultimately result in lower well-being. Therefore, it is important to strengthen teenagers' self-esteem, as well as to encourage them to develop passions and build valuable relationships.
AI competition in the labour market?
Artificial intelligence is a topic that cannot be passed by indifferently. Its development raises concerns among both adults and teenagers. A survey conducted for the Finansiaki project shows that almost 6 in 10 parents fear that AI will put some people out of work. Almost 40 per cent of teenagers aged 12-15 and more than half of those aged 16-18 are of the same opinion.
Only 10 per cent of parents surveyed think AI will make it easier for them to find a job in the future. Teenagers are more optimistic, with one in five believing AI will make it easier for them to enter the labour market. Less than 10 per cent of all respondents believe that AI will not affect the job market in any way. And one in four parents and one in three teenagers aged 12-15 have no opinion on the subject.
It is easier for all of us to live in a world that is predictable and where we know what our decisions and choices will bring in the future. However, in today's world, this is simply not possible. Watching the rapid changes in technology, young people can be full of anxiety about what their future will look like. Fortunately, teenagers seem to be aware that they will have to face the unpredictable. Many of them point out that the key to career success is the ability to manage stress and self-improvement. Possessing these competences can help reduce fears associated with technological advances and facilitate adaptation to changing realities. Therefore, it is extremely important to shape these skills from an early age.
Resources for talking to children about money, tips on how to get started on this topic and lesson plans can be found at www.finansiaki.pl.
The survey was conducted by IQS research agency at the request of Santander Bank Polska for the Finansiaki programme. The CAWI method was used to interview a sample of 1,500 persons, including 500 parents, 500 teenagers aged 12-15 and 500 teenagers aged 16-18.
