Gen Z staff - keeping themselves safe between challenges and temptations

Generation Z officials were born and raised amid unprecedented movements in technology, media and social networks, and are entering the public service environment with many expectations. They carry modern knowledge, a spirit of innovation and a desire to serve the country. But along with opportunities come challenges, temptations and sophisticated "breaks" that can shake their courage and erode their ideals. In the midst of the whirlpool of interests, power and reputation, the question is not only whether Generation Z officials are good or not, but whether they are steadfast and self-reliant enough to contribute?

Báo Quân đội Nhân dân•29/10/2025

When youth carries great ideals

“What made you choose to be a Youth Union official, when there are so many attractive career opportunities?” I asked Nguyen Van Khanh, 27 years old, Youth Union Secretary in a mountainous commune in Thanh Hoa province. Khanh smiled gently and replied: “Perhaps it is faith. I think if the young generation does not commit themselves, who will be the one to change their homeland?”

The answer seems simple but contains the depth of a new generation, who entered the public service environment in a context completely different from previous generations. They not only have the ambition to serve but are also strongly influenced by the flat world : global thinking, the speed of technology, the influence of social networks and the tendency to promote individual values. These factors are both a source of strength and pose great challenges in how to maintain ideals in the reality of work.

People do administrative procedures at the Public Administration Service Center of Thu Duc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Illustration photo: tuoitre.vn

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Viet Thao, former Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, once spoke at the National Conference on Personnel Work (March 2023): “The revolutionary ideals of today's youth have not diminished, but the challenges are greater and more complex. The young generation entering the public service environment needs both knowledge and political courage to avoid being swept away by the whirlwind of integration, the market and social networks.”

That's right, Gen Z is educated in an open environment, imbued with technology and competitiveness. They enter life with a creative spirit, daring to think and dare to do. They are proficient in foreign languages, good at digital skills, have systematic thinking and desire to assert themselves. However, along with their aspirations comes the pressure to balance: How to be dynamic, enthusiastic, creative and integrated, while being loyal, steadfast and pure in political qualities, this is the problem facing Gen Z.

In reality, many young cadres start with beautiful ideals, wishing to contribute, innovate, and build a more prosperous homeland. However, there is always a gap between dreams and reality. It is this gap that tests courage and perseverance the most.

Challenges, temptations and easy-to-fall “buttons”

The first challenge for Gen Z cadres is power. If power is not controlled and made transparent, it can easily become a temptation. Young people are often energetic and ambitious, but also impatient, attracted by glory and power, from which responsibility can be overshadowed by selfish calculations. When "capacity" has not yet been matched by "morality", the attraction of power will easily shake the foundation of ideals. A "like", a compliment, a promise can all become the "breaking point" that causes young cadres to slide down if there is a lack of control mechanisms.

The second challenge is material temptation and comparison psychology. Living in an era where material values are strongly displayed, Gen Z cannot help but be influenced. Many people witness friends and colleagues starting businesses, earning high incomes and being praised, while working in state agencies requires discipline and has few opportunities to express themselves immediately. If they lack confidence and ideals, they are easily swayed, develop the mentality of "going out is fun" or look for "shortcuts" to get promoted.

The third challenge comes from social media and the illusion of fame. Generation Z grew up with Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. For them, social media is both a communication tool and a "stage" to express themselves. Social media can spread good values, but it can also easily make young officials fall into the temptation of "visualizing" their work: chasing likes, trading their careers for instant praise... When "virtual" overwhelms "real" and "form" obscures "essence", the quality of work and community responsibility are at risk of being damaged.

Another challenge is the public service environment, which is often too formal. Many agencies and units still have bureaucratic administrative habits, lack of encouragement for creativity, and focus on formality and not on efficiency. For young and enthusiastic officials, such an environment can be discouraging and demoralizing. Without proper guidance, support and protection, they may choose to “be content”, “get it done” or worse, adapt to formalism to survive.

That shows that each fall of a young cadre is not only a personal loss but also damages the people's trust. A small "break" in morality can lead to a major breakdown in the system of values and trust of the masses...

Maintain your courage, nurture your ambition

In order for Gen Z cadres to maintain their courage and aspiration, the key is to create a comprehensive training environment where young cadres can not only talk and learn, but also practice, experiment and take responsibility for themselves.

First of all, it is necessary to regularly train and build political will and strong ideology for Gen Z cadres. Without ideals, there can be no will. Will is not born from oaths, but from a long-term training process: Theoretical education for Gen Z must be linked to practice, with highly applicable training programs and testing sessions through actual work. It is necessary to renew political education for Gen Z cadres, so that they not only learn resolutions but also "live with resolutions", put ideals into action, and turn thoughts into energy to guide behavior and decisions.

Second, training through practice and through the grassroots is the biggest test for Gen Z cadres. Only when going to the grassroots, facing people's lives, encountering difficulties and real pressures, will young cadres understand the value of each decision, understand the price of service and responsibility. Practice will train patience, actualize ideals and help cadres recognize their own limits to improve.

Third, controlling power and making the mechanism transparent are conditions to protect the integrity of young cadres. It is necessary to design a public mechanism, from assignment, evaluation, reward to handling violations... so that power does not turn into temptation. Controlling power is not to stifle creativity but to create a safe framework for creativity. When all efforts are evaluated fairly, young cadres will be more steadfast and less likely to seek "shortcuts".

Fourth, encourage creativity and give them room to experiment. Gen Z is a generation of technology and ideas, so give them room to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from responsible failures. Support small creative projects, flexible appraisal mechanisms, and mentoring systems—these help develop the intelligence, analytical skills, and entrepreneurial spirit of Gen Z employees.

In addition, it is necessary to improve the evaluation and appointment criteria to prioritize real qualities: political courage, professional capacity, spirit of closeness to the people and integrity. The model of young cadres in the new era should be associated with clear criteria: "Courage - intelligence - closeness to the people - integrity". When young, pure and dedicated examples are recognized and spread, social trust will be nurtured by practice, not just by words.

There should be mechanisms to protect good people and strictly handle violations, at the same time creating conditions for rotation, challenges and mentoring programs for young cadres to grow sustainably. Building a working environment with fair treatment, transparency and development opportunities all help reduce the pressure of material comparison and keep talented people to serve.

The Draft Political Report of the 13th Party Central Committee presented to the 14th National Congress of the Party stated the determination: "Strategic autonomy, self-reliance, self-confidence, and strong progress in the era of national development for peace, independence, democracy, wealth, prosperity, civilization, happiness, and steady progress towards socialism". In which, the young generation, especially young cadres, are the successors of the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party. Therefore, the Draft determined: "Strengthening the education of the young generation of Vietnam on revolutionary ideals, ethics, lifestyle, patriotism, national pride, nurturing dreams, ambitions, will, and aspirations to contribute, and upholding responsibility towards the country and society".

For Gen Z - the generation born in the information explosion era, growing up with artificial intelligence and a flat world, the biggest challenge lies not outside but within themselves: between ideals and reality, between aspirations and temptations, between the ego and the common good. Only when they are brave enough to overcome the "broken knots", can Gen Z truly become a steadfast, courageous, and ambitious generation of future cadres who have the desire to contribute to the country.