Gen Z really prioritizes time to themselves and work-life balance over climbing up the career ladder, and I can't tell if I think this is incredibly wise of them or just pure laziness. I can't imagine being in my 20s and not wanting more. I wouldn't even know what kind of equanimity to aim for when all I want is to afford to not live with my parents anymore and get myself all the skin products I want. Do you have an opinion about 'conscious unbossing'?

Conscious unbossing hahah. So many terms for the things that this generation pulls. There's definitely a lot to learn from them because advocacy for oneself is something the millennials or generations before that truly don't understand. At the same time, I don't know you much, you can grow with that kind of lackadaisical nature. Guess we'll let them lead the way and show us poor immortals.

Millennial here. Never heard of conscious unbossing lol, what does that even mean? I don’t think it’s lazy to have boundaries with work, I think it’s incredibly healthy. Other generations made work their entire lives, created toxic work habits/workplaces and think you aren’t successful unless you’re burnt out. I think there’s more to life than your career. It’s part of it, but it’s not everything. If you’re financially well-off and enjoying your life, what’s the problem? Not everyone wants to climb the corporate ladder.

I think they’ve learned by watching GenX and millennials get screwed over

As a zillenial (aka that micro gen between 1993 to 1997) I do get them. In some ways my inner millenial, wanted to do the bossing until you bump your head into a wall of office politics, in my case there was a lot of pushing and pulling (doesn’t help when you are a minority with an accent in your field, and immigrate to do the bossing). At some point you are struggling a lot with a salary that you could afford only a room (but big city right, so that’s the price). Then your family tells you maybe just find something that might not be very interesting as a job but at least you will be happy and with a stable income. And at some point, all the hours doing the work starts to seem kinda pointless, when you don’t get the recognition, respect and just realise you never will cause you are not a nepo baby or higher class as your posh colleagues. So you kinda realise you are burnt out, without motivation and the only motivation you can afford is going to a trip, being with your family and friends, enjoying your life. I’ve seen so many super senior people who managed to reach high levels of career and they are nowhere now thanks to ageism, office politics, economic crisis, political situation, even things like visa. So, yeah I kinda feel on both sides, and even I love doing cool work and career feels important, there are some more important things in life. In my industry people right now are celebrating in Cannes, getting statues of Lions, whereas I feel happy back in my own little country maybe with less opportunities and less interesting but at least hey I am not getting panic attacks or trying to avoid some backstabbing Karens and Steves in corporate.
And definitely not for something that is literally collecting dust on a shelf.

So yeah, I finally feel not ashamed to admit that yea I didn’t fulfill my career dream but somehow I start to realise that I feel happiness in other things too.

Many of us aren’t even getting hired .. especially in this market so who is creating these articles?

Wise