The Post‑Covid Workplace: A Clear Purpose, Career Growth and Strong Mental Health and Wellbeing Policies Rank Highly as Job Priorities for Young People in Türkiye

• 70% of Turkish Millennials and Gen Zs feel strongly about working at a purpose-led company 
• 56% of Millennials and Gen Zs prefer a career where they can hold multiple roles within one organisation
• Millennials and GenZs in Türkiye place importance on performance recognition, strong mental health and wellbeing policies, and extensive career development opportunities
• Jobs that young people want to do include engineering, business management, and project management – all of which can be achieved as part of a career in hospitality 
• The ability to travel the world and meeting people from all walks of life are considered perks of a job in hospitality

ISTANBUL, Türkiye - Millennials and Gen Zs in Türkiye have revealed what they want from an ideal job in a post-pandemic workplace, with extensive career development opportunities, performance recognition, and strong employee support for mental health and wellness top of mind. The findings were disclosed in a new survey commissioned by Hilton (NYSE: HLT). 

Working for a company with a clear purpose is also of strong importance to young Turkish professionals (70%), the survey found, with more than one-third (36%) of respondents saying an employer’s policies on social and environmental issues are also a decisive factor when considering a job opportunity. 

Meanwhile, more than half of respondents felt flexible working hours (58%) and a strong sense of family among colleagues (53%) were also attractive qualities, or ‘added perks’, in an employer. The opportunity to travel for work was also revealed as a desirable job aspect for Millennials and Gen Zs — with more than three-quarters (78%) of respondents saying it would be an important factor in an ideal role.

Meanwhile, opportunities to acquire new skills including leadership (58%), administrative (45%), time management (44%), new language (44%), project management (40%) and interpersonal communication (39%) were sought after in the perfect job.  When asked to identify their dream role, more than a quarter (27%) of Turkish Millennials and Gen Zs referenced engineering, followed by business management (25%) and project management (25%) – all of which can be achieved as part of a career in the hospitality industry. 

Of those surveyed, nearly half (46%) said they had considered taking up a job in hospitality in the past 12 months. Among those, nearly half (48%) said they would choose a hospitality employer that truly values its employees and almost a quarter (24%) said they would prefer a company that champions sustainability throughout its operations. 

Hotel management (36%), marketing and communications (29%) and event management (28%) were cited as the most desirable departments within the sector, with the top benefits that could come with a job in hospitality seen as the opportunity to work in a social environment, learning new skills, and meeting people from all walks of life.

The survey also revealed a fascinating range of similarities between Millennials (aged 26-41) and Gen Zs (aged 18-25) regarding what they want from a company and an employer. Both groups said they would benefit from pursuing a career with multiple roles within one organisation (Gen Z 53%, Millennials 48%). Job aspects such as performance recognition (Gen Z 62%, Millennials 65%), extensive career development opportunities (Gen Z 57%, Millennials 55%) and strong mental health and wellbeing policies (Gen Z 54%, Millennials 57%) were also important for both age groups.

Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, president, Middle East, Africa and Türkiye, Hilton said, “Our research shows that the pandemic has shifted how we think about work, with young professionals in Türkiye telling us they value recognition, career growth, wellbeing, and an overall work environment where they can thrive. At Hilton, we are driven by our purpose – which is to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality. We recognise that in order to achieve this, we must lead with our culture and are fiercely committed to creating a truly diverse and meaningful work environment where individuals are empowered with the tools, technology, and culture to unleash their full potential. 

“We know that when we invest in our team members, our guests, owners and local communities also benefit. From life-changing travel opportunities and career acceleration programmes and ensuring a sense of belonging for every team member, to our commitment to creating positive environmental and social impact – this is how we make Hilton a great place to work. We are currently recruiting for more than 200 positions across our nearly 70 hotels in Türkiye, and will be looking to hire more than 3,000 team members as we expect to open more than 30 hotels in the coming years. This will include countless roles ranging from engineering and F&B to event management and front desk.”

Hilton has a long-standing presence in Türkiye, with Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus the longest-serving international hotel (outside the Americas) having opened its doors more than 65 years ago. Hilton has 18 brands worldwide, of which seven of them are welcoming guests in Türkiye – Conrad Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton. 

The global hospitality company recently celebrated a milestone of 100 hotels either already operating or under development in Türkiye with the signing of Canopy by Hilton Istanbul Taksim, which will also signal the debut of the Canopy boutique lifestyle brand in the country.

Hilton recently ranked as #1 Best Workplace in Türkiye by Great Place to Work® -- a position it has held six times in the last seven years. The company pays particular attention to the well-being of its employees by offering attractive working conditions, competitive benefits, great recognition and support for their personal and professional development.  Hilton offers a competitive travel discount programme, Go Hilton, for team members, their families and friends, as well as ongoing training and apprenticeship programs, to help each team member achieve their career aspirations.  

For more information about a career at Hilton, visit https://jobs.hilton.com/emea/en.

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

Methodology

OnePoll surveyed 1000 respondents in Türkiye from 5th May – 12th May 2022. The survey was conducted online using panel members who are credited to participate in surveys. Respondents aged 18-41 were targeted using screening questions and profile data in order to ensure the correct demographic was achieved.