Generation Z is too scared to talk on the phone says recruitment expert Victoria Bari

Ever since Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone, generations have embraced the freedom to speak to virtually anyone in the world.

No longer.

Gen Z workers are apparently too scared to talk on their mobiles – preferring to communicate via text or email, says a top recruitment expert.

Victoria Bari claims youngsters entering the workplace today don’t have experience of talking over the blower.

Instead, Gen Z – those born between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s seem to prefer the easier option of sending an email or text message to communicate with colleagues or clients.

Ms Bari, of Berry Recruitment Group, said messaging is a less effective method than talking.

Technological advances have led to a reduction in phone use, but Ms Bari insists it is still the best way to sell.

She said: “There is certainly a generational divide and for younger, more inexperienced consultants, emails and messaging are the first route of communication.”

“But talking to people remains the most effective method of building relationships, which is a fundamental building block of sales.

“Finding the right person to talk to – and their direct line or mobile number – is also a skill that we are training recruits to understand. ‘The more conversations, the better the relationship and the more chance of placing a candidate with a client.

“As recruiters, our products are people and when a consultant has a good one I’m telling them to call businesses and tell them what a great candidate they have.

“When a new consultant begins making calls and realises how effective they are, their confidence grows.

“The more experienced recruiters for whom phone calls are standard are great role models for the less experienced ones.

“I’m telling the younger staff to listen to how the experienced recruiters talk – it is a skill.”