iQOO, a premium smartphone brand focused on gaming, recently released The Quest Report 2024 with CyberMedia Research (CMR). The report provides insights into Gen Z’s career aspirations in seven countries: India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia. 6,700 Questers (aged 20-24) were surveyed on Gen Z traits and trends in dreams, careers, and aspirations.
The report reveals the dreams and passion journey of this unendingly optimistic generation, one of the largest in the world. It covers three broad areas: Gen Z’s career and aspirations, Obstacles and barriers in their quest for more, and Motivation to achieve success.
The National Education Policy 2020, which allows students to take a gap year during their course, has led to a rise in Indian students opting for this break to pursue their dreams. Shedding the stigma of gap years being associated with failure, the iQOO The Quest Report 2024 highlights the increasing determination of students to achieve their aspirations.
Some of the key highlights from the report include:
New-Age Job
One out of four Indian respondents are more inclined towards new-age job fields like content creation, data analysis, AI, and cybersecurity. These fields offer innovative and dynamic career opportunities compared to traditional industries.
Work-Life Balance
43% of the respondents in India and 46% globally are willing to sacrifice work-life balance to succeed in their careers. The report suggests that the recent debate on work-life balance, prompted by the deliberation on a 14-hour workday and 70-hour workweek, has stirred up conversations among Gen Z.
Reliable Paths for Career Growth
Gen Z’s career aspirations shift from entrepreneurship towards stable career paths. Only 9% of Indian Gen Z’s want entrepreneurship, while 19% aim for leadership roles in established organizations. This trend is rising despite India’s status as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, boasting over 125,000 startups and 110 unicorns.
Gender Disparity
Gender disparity is viewed as a significant barrier by 8 out of 10 Indian Gen Z’s, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving workplace equality. 2X more women in India feel gender affects the pursuit of their dreams compared to men.
Career Advancements
19% of Indians prefer career advancements in big organizations instead of startups. A notable 91% of Indian respondents feel that taking a gap year in a career can help them pursue their dreams and aspirations.
Career With Challenges
Indian youth are hustlers, taking 2X the initiative compared to their global peers. 46% feel financial constraints are a barrier to pursuing the career of their choice. However, over 90% are confident in achieving their dream despite obstacles. Around 65% of the respondents see failure as a learning opportunity, and 60% believe it pushes them towards their dreams.
Education and Mentorship
Education and mentorship are seen as crucial for supporting career aspirations. 51% of Questers said they would take up higher studies to support their quest, while 49% of the Indians believe expert mentorship is a powerful tool to support their aspirations.
According to the research, 62% of Indian youth are willing to give up their hobbies and other interests to pursue their aspirations. The report’s results indicate the snap savant Gen Z’s passion for achieving more, regardless of the circumstances.
Commenting on the release of the brand’s first quest film and report, Nipun Marya, CEO of iQOO India, said:
Today’s youth are characterized by their bold dreams and an unwavering drive to bring those dreams to fruition. This indomitable spirit is encapsulated in our brand philosophy: “I Quest on and on”, and we proudly refer to these passionate and determined individuals as Questers. While we specialize in high-performance smartphones, we’ve been inspired by the innovative ways young people utilize technology to chase their ambitious goals. This inspiration led us to decode today’s youth’s aspirations and offer them the support they need. The result is The Quest Report and the Quest Film—our brand’s exploration into how passion fuels this ever-optimistic generation. Both the film and the report are an effort to inspire Gen Z to embark on their quest despite the numerous challenges and achieve their dreams.
Prabhu Ram, Vice President– of Industry Research Group, CyberMedia Research (CMR), added:
In our increasingly complex, digitally-driven world, today’s youth face unprecedented challenges. At CyberMedia Research (CMR), we have been at the forefront of understanding these evolving consumer paradigms. CMR’s research for The Quest Report, commissioned by iQOO, explores the perspectives of a brave new generation of youth across Asia, Europe, North America, and South America, providing invaluable insights into their mindset and quests. The high levels of clarity and focus on big dreams, along with a hustler mindset, underscore the state of today’s youth in India.
The Quest Report highlights India’s tremendous potential on the global stage and underscores the optimism driving this remarkable generation.
About iQOO
With a focus on innovation, performance, and design, iQOO aims to redefine the gaming landscape and empower the community. The company is committed to pushing the boundaries of mobile gaming and providing users with a truly immersive gaming experience through a diverse range of cutting-edge smartphones.
