A pair of surveys, one by business consultancy Deloitte and the other by workplace management software maker Robin Powered, found that young professionals want more flexible and purposeful work.

Robin’s 2022 report found that 33% of Generation Z employees who work full time in the office prefer that setup, while 46% wish they were hybrid and 20% would rather be fully remote. Gen Z is typically defined as the 72 million people who were born between 1997 and 2012.

The Robin report, which surveyed 600 Gen Z employees, also found that 57% of respondents are currently experiencing burnout.

The Deloitte Global 2023 Gen Z and Millennial Survey found that when it comes to when they’d like to work, 36% said the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday schedule works for them, while 28% prefer a four-day workweek and 28% prefer flexible working hours beyond the usual 9 to 5 five-day workweek.

The Deloitte study also found that “many Gen Zs and millennials make career decisions based on their values and want to be empowered to drive change within their organizations,” with 44% of Gen Z employees saying they have rejected assignments due to ethical concerns and 39% saying they have turned down employers that do not align with their values.

The Business Record reached out to five college students from Drake University, Iowa State University and Grinnell College for feedback from their recent internship experiences as well as what they’re looking for from a future job or employer.

Their responses have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

Abigail Adrian, majoring in law, politics and society at Drake University

Describe what you did during your internship.
I was a human resources intern at F&G. I worked within the talent development department. I helped gather information to start the beginnings of a talent development onboarding site. I assisted with facilitating the internship program by coordinating professional and social events. I also helped curate LinkedIn Learning content to promote DEI and various skills.

What was the biggest lesson you took away from your internship?
The biggest lesson that I learned is the importance of building relationships. F&G helped me connect with so many professionals on all levels of the company. I was able to connect with interns and learn leadership skills by having the opportunity to help coordinate intern events. I learned that I want to be able to help people find what they’re passionate about.

What is a trait or offering that is important that your future job or employer has?
Something F&G provides employees with is an authentic company culture. There is flexibility in many aspects of the company, yet the company culture is consistent across the board. A solid, inclusive company culture is the most integral part of a job to me. I want to feel welcome and contribute to the community in a positive way.

Andres Gonzalez, majoring in computer science at Iowa State University

Describe what you did during your internship.
During my cybersecurity internship [at Casey’s], I was tasked with learning what a cybersecurity professional does as well as getting hands-on experience. I helped with setting up new user accounts and approving new access. My intern project was to help review access to an active directory group. I created a PowerShell script that sorted over 300-plus users by their managers and sent an individual email to each manager asking them to provide business justification for why each of their team members needs to be in this group.

What was the biggest lesson you took away from your internship?
The biggest lesson I learned is what career I would like to pursue in the future. Going into my internship, I really did not know a lot about cybersecurity, but learning about all the different teams in cybersecurity and what they do has really made me consider going down the cybersecurity path.

What is a trait or offering that is important that your future job or employer has?
A trait that is important is making sure the company cares about the employee. At Casey’s, they put each member in a position to succeed, and everybody has low egos, so it was really easy to talk in meetings and talk to high-level management as well.

Deepit Chandgothia, majoring in computer science and economics at Grinnell College

Describe what you did during your internship.
During my summer internship at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I worked as a software developer intern, focusing on improving the member experience through our dedicated portal, myWellmark. I added new user-friendly features, made updates to ensure seamless functionality and conducted extensive research to assist with additional improvements. One of my standout achievements was completing improvements to our provider finder, simplifying health care provider searches for users.

What was the biggest lesson you took away from your internship?
The biggest lesson I took away from my internship experience was the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in the rapidly evolving field of software development. I realized that staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and tools is crucial for success in this field. Additionally, I discovered the value of a customer-centric approach and effective problem-solving skills, which I believe are essential for any career path. This internship with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield reaffirmed my passion for technology and its potential to create innovative solutions for real-world problems.

What is a trait or offering that is important that your future job or employer has?
A crucial trait I seek in my future career or with an employer is a vibrant and inclusive company culture, similar to the remarkable atmosphere I experienced during my internship at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Before my time at Wellmark, I had heard about the concept of a positive workplace culture, but it was at this company that I truly witnessed its tangible benefits. Wellmark’s culture is exceptional, characterized by the warmth and supportiveness of its people who actively encourage personal and professional growth. They prioritize continuous learning and career progression, which align seamlessly with my aspirations. Moreover, Wellmark fosters creativity, innovation and a strong sense of community within the organization. This experience has set a high standard for what I value in my future job. I seek to contribute to a workplace that excels in its industry and prioritizes its employees’ strengths and development as an essential pillar of success.

Jackson Hill, majoring in economics and finance at Drake University

Describe what you did during your internship.
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Bankers Trust, specifically within its wealth management support services department. My role involved hands-on experience in various crucial tasks, such as helping manage the daily ledger and providing support for client trades. Through this internship, I gained a deep understanding of the inner workings of the stock market and got a real taste of what corporate life is all about.

What was the biggest lesson you took away from your internship?
One of the most significant takeaways from my internship was learning the power of asking good questions and the art of networking. On a regular basis, I was able to observe how great leaders were able to empower their teams and gain great insight by asking the right questions to the right people. During one of our intern interviews with Scott Eltjes, CEO of Bankers Trust Capital Management, he emphasized how he was just as interested in learning from us as we were from him. Seeing a leader like him who continues to approach conversations with young professionals with the goal of learning and creating opportunities was very encouraging. I have come to realize over my summer working in downtown Des Moines that there are many other change-makers and thought leaders just like him who want to build meaningful and lasting relationships. Now knowing this fact, I have come away encouraged for the future of this amazing greater Des Moines area I have always called home.

What is a trait or offering that is important that your future job or employer has?
My time at Bankers Trust highlighted the importance of a company whose mission and values align with my own beliefs. It’s not enough for a company to just say its mission and values; these principles should be seen in its actions. This summer, I was able to fully experience the way Bankers Trust is truly committed to living by their principles. The way personal relationships and community are emphasized could truly be seen at all levels of the company. As I continue to explore what the future has in store, the importance of strong value alignment will be taken very seriously.

Erica Nasstrom, majoring in marketing at Iowa State University

Describe what you did during your internship.
As a web experience intern at Athene, I supported email automation, analyzed and streamlined data, reported email metrics and developed a departmental onboarding resource. Throughout the summer, all Athene interns participated in several professional development activities and worked in cross-functional teams to compete in the annual Athene Intern Commercial competition.

What was the biggest lesson you took away from your internship?
One of the biggest lessons I learned throughout my internship experience is how much I value connecting with my co-workers. This summer, I spent a lot of my time with my fellow interns and full-time employees. Knowing I have people who genuinely care about me and want to help me succeed has made me feel confident and supported.

What is a trait or offering that is important that your future job or employer has?
An important trait that my future employer has is a mentorship program. Having a mentor has been game-changing for me throughout my time at Athene. As someone new to the post-grad workforce, it is essential for me to have both professional and personal support.