When I was growing up, certain careers were held up as the pinnacle of success.
If you were a doctor, lawyer, or banker, you had made it—simple as that.
But man, times have changed.
Gen Z, the latest generation to enter the workforce, has a whole different perspective on what constitutes a prestigious career.
Those jobs that Boomers and even Gen X coveted? Well, they’re not necessarily on the top of Gen Z’s list.
In fact, some are seen as downright outdated.
Buckle up as we explore eight jobs that were once revered but now may be more relic than revered by the younger generations:
1) Traditional banking
Ah, banking.
The industry that was once synonymous with success and prestige.
In my day, being a banker meant you were on top of the financial world.
You had an office, a fancy suit, and a hefty paycheck.
But Gen Z? They’re not buying it.
The traditional banking sector is seen by many of them as outdated and even archaic.
With the rise of fintech and digital currencies, brick-and-mortar banks and the traditional roles within them seem more like relics of a bygone era.
To Gen Z, the finance world is all about innovation, adaptability and technology.
Traditional banking just doesn’t quite fit their bill anymore.
Chalk it up to their digital nativity or their desire for more flexible and meaningful work, but one thing is clear: The prestige once associated with traditional banking is definitely not what it used to be.
2) Newspaper journalism
When I was in high school, I was the editor of our school newspaper.
It was a position I held with a lot of pride.
I remember thinking, “This is it. I’m going to be a journalist and work for a big-time newspaper someday.”
The thought of working at the likes of The New York Times or Washington Post was exhilarating.
Fast forward to now, and Gen Z sees newspaper journalism as an outdated profession.
With the digital age in full swing, traditional print media has taken a hit, and many newspapers have either gone out of business or transitioned online.
Gen Z, having grown up with smartphones and social media, are more inclined towards digital content creation.
They are often more interested in being influencers, bloggers, or digital journalists rather than traditional newspaper journalists.
3) Travel agents
Remember the days when planning a trip meant a visit to your local travel agency? You’d sit down with a travel agent, who would sift through massive directories and coordinate the perfect vacation itinerary for you.
Here’s something to chew on, though: Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with the internet at their fingertips.
This means they’ve never known a world without online booking platforms like Airbnb, Expedia, and Skyscanner.
As a result, the traditional travel agent role is seen as outdated by many in this age group.
Why go through an intermediary when you can book your flights, accommodations, and even plan out your entire itinerary with just a few clicks?
This shift in perspective has had quite an impact on the industry.
4) Postal workers
Once upon a time, being a postal worker was a respected position.
It offered job security, decent pay, and the opportunity to serve your community.
Who wouldn’t want that?
But enter Gen Z, the digital natives, and suddenly the job doesn’t seem so appealing.
With the advent of email and instant messaging, traditional mail has taken a backseat.
Physical letters are now often seen as a thing of the past.
And while there’s still a need for parcel delivery thanks to online shopping, many younger people don’t see postal work as a career to aspire to.
Instead, they’re more drawn to jobs in tech and creative industries.
The prestige that once surrounded the postal worker profession simply doesn’t resonate with many in Gen Z.
5) Landline telephone operators
I’ll be honest, I thought being a landline telephone operator was the coolest job as a child.
The ability to connect people from different parts of the world seemed like a superpower to me.
But let’s face it, when was the last time you used a landline to make a call? I can’t even remember when I last did!
With the ubiquity of mobile phones and the internet, Gen Z sees landline telephone operators as a relic of the past.
I mean, why rely on a human operator when technology can do the job more efficiently?
It’s a little nostalgic for me to see this job viewed as outdated.
However, Gen Z’s perspective is understandable in our fast-paced, digitally connected world.
6) Lawyers
Being a lawyer has long been seen as a high-status, lucrative profession.
But here’s the thing: Gen Z is growing up in a world where there’s a growing skepticism towards the legal system and its accessibility.
With sky-high legal fees and the perception of the industry as being out of touch with the common man, some younger people are questioning whether becoming a lawyer is really as prestigious as it once was.
Furthermore, with the rise of legal tech, many routine legal tasks can now be automated or handled by AI.
This has led some Gen Zers to view the traditional lawyer role as less relevant in today’s world.
It’s a shift that I think speaks volumes about Gen Z’s values and their vision for a more equitable, techy society.
7) Door-to-door salespeople
Back in the day, door-to-door sales was a common profession.
Whether it was selling vacuums, encyclopedias, or Tupperware, this job offered a way to make a living and was seen as a decent career.
But Gen Z? They’re more likely to buy products online or from social media ads than from a salesperson knocking at their door.
This shift in consumer behavior has made the door-to-door sales role seem outdated to many younger people.
They’re more interested in careers that involve digital marketing or e-commerce, aligning with their tech-savvy and internet-focused lifestyle.
The traditional door-to-door sales profession just doesn’t hold the same appeal or prestige for Gen Z as it did for previous generations.
8) Factory workers
Manufacturing jobs were once the backbone of the economy.
They provided stable incomes and a chance to be part of producing something tangible.
However, Gen Z has a different perspective.
They’ve grown up in a world where automation and robotics are rapidly transforming industries, including manufacturing; they see factory work as repetitive, physically demanding, and at risk of being automated.
Instead, many are drawn to careers in tech, creative fields, or roles that offer more intellectual stimulation and flexibility.
Having the prestige once associated with being a factory worker just doesn’t resonate with Gen Z, reflecting their unique values and aspirations in the evolving job market.
Reflection on the changing times
As we navigate through these points, it’s clear that the concept of prestige in jobs is ever-changing.
What was once seen as desirable and respectable may now be seen as outdated, and that’s okay.
Changes in societal values, advancements in technology, and shifts in economic landscapes are transforming the world of work.
Gen Z, with their unique perspectives and values, are part of this transformation.
It’s important to remember that there’s no inherent value in clinging to past notions of prestige.
Rather, it’s about finding a career that aligns with your values, interests, and aspirations.
Perhaps it’s not so much about which jobs are seen as prestigious or outdated, but about what kind of work gives you a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
As the world continues to evolve, so too will our perceptions of what constitutes a ‘good job’.
And who knows? Maybe some of the jobs we’ve discussed today will make a comeback, or transform into something entirely new.
As we ponder on these changes, let us remember this quote by Socrates: “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”
