Goldman Sachs did a massive survey of its Gen Z interns and found they like pot, but ignore influencers

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Who they are

Who they are

Goldman Sach's 1,800 interns come from far and wide. Over 400 universities, 46 different languages, and 61 areas of study are represented. There were more women than men taking up the trainee roles at the bank.

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Brands over product

Brands over product

When it comes to buying products, the interns valued brand over product. 41% said the brand was the most important, while 26% said the product itself was. Interestingly, only 4% said that influencers helped when making decisions.

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Hotels over Airbnb

Hotels over Airbnb

When it came to travel, interns preferred to stay in hotels, with 2/3 favoring them. Airbnbs, on the other hand, were much more unfashionable. Just 29% said they preferred homestays.

When it came to feeling like themselves water bottles and sleep were important

When it came to feeling like themselves water bottles and sleep were important

When it came to feeling like themselves, sleep was the most important factor, with over a third wanting eight hours a night. 18% said they needed caffeine and 14% said a water bottle was vital.

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When it comes to careers, employer size didn't matter as much as what they did.

When it comes to careers, employer size didn't matter as much as what they did.

When it came to careers what mattered most was the actual job they did and working with the right people. Employer size didn't seem to matter as much, nor did wearing what you wanted.

Work-life balance

Work-life balance

When it came to work-life balance friends and family came out on top with nearly two-thirds wanting to spend time with loved ones. Being able to stop thinking about work came in the next highest. (Oddly, 1% of the interns said that work-life balance meant sitting on a beanbag?)

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Only a third said they think the American economy will get better.

Only a third said they think the American economy will get better.

Confidence in the economy wasn't at the forefront of the interns' thinking. Outside of the Americas, 55% were bullish about improvements, but the same couldn't be said for the American interns.

Favoring legal drug use was more common

Favoring legal drug use was more common

85% of the interns favored legalization of pot for medical use, while nearly half wanted it to be legal for recreational use.

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Most wanted government action on climate change

Most wanted government action on climate change

Perhaps the most strongly felt opinion across the board was that the interns wanted action on climate change. 83% wanted a carbon tax to help fight it.

Brexit doesn't mean Brexit.

Brexit doesn't mean Brexit.

When it came to Brexit, the interns were much more in favor of a second referendum, though which way they voted wasn't clear. The interns in Europe, Middle East and Africa were slightly more in favor — over three quarters.

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AI will be the biggest influence

AI will be the biggest influence

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bank's interns felt that the biggest change in the future will be the use of AI. 31% did say climate change, 9% resource scarcity and 6% cybercrime.

They're ambitious

They're ambitious

Perhaps unsurprisingly for interns at one of the world's most prestigious investment banks, the young people are ambitious. About 60% said they want to start a business. And 92% said they want to work for five or fewer employers in their lifetime.

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