by Ben Salisbury
New research from U.K. recruitment company GI Group reveals that hiring teams need to move quickly to successfully hire qualified Gen Z candidates.
It found that among Gen Z candidates aged 18-25, more than 50% expect to hear back within seven days. In contrast, more than a third of older candidates, aged 55-64, said they are happy to wait up to two weeks.
The research highlights the gap between younger candidate expectations and the reality of the recruitment process. It also suggests recruiters need to adapt strategies for hiring different age cohorts or risk high drop-off rates and emphasises the importance of a positive candidate experience.
Separate research from Standout-CV found the average time it takes to hire from a candidate applying for a job to them accepting it is 4.9 weeks. This means recruitment marketplaces need to speed up the link process to recruiters to provide the right service for their clients to meet Gen Z expectations or risk missing out on talent.
Recruiters must screen, review and communicate back to candidates quickly to secure the right candidate and not risk them applying for and accepting an alternative position.
“For organisations intent on attracting the best, accelerating recruitment processes and improving communication is essential,” said Gi Group MD Pete Taylor.
“The U.K. job market in 2025 is grappling with a complex set of challenges that are contributing to delays in the recruitment process. “Economic uncertainties have led to cautious hiring practices.
“Simultaneously, the rise of AI-generated applications has inundated recruiters with a deluge of CVs that often lack authenticity, resulting in uninteresting, standardised CVs, making it more challenging for hiring managers to identify genuine, qualified candidates.”
Further research from Zety’s 2025 Gen Z Career Trends Report highlights the role TikTok has in how Gen Z find a job. It surveyed almost 900 Gen Z employees. In the U.K., almost half, 46%, found a job or internship via TikTok and 92% said they trusted the site for career advice. They also prefer Instagram to LinkedIn as a place to connect with industry professionals.