Gen Z Workplace Priorities: Could They Survive Miranda Priestly?

A sequel to The Devil Wears Prada is in production, and it has people asking a very modern question. Would anyone under 30 actually want Andy Sachs’s job today? The 2006 film followed an aspiring journalist who lands a prestigious but punishing post as assistant to a formidable fashion editor, Miranda Priestly. Back then, it looked like the price of getting ahead. Today, the picture has changed.

How the Gen Z workplace has shifted

The film celebrated hustle: long hours, constant pressure and being on call around the clock. The Gen Z workplace looks quite different. According to the CV-writing service TopCV, younger professionals are now much more focused on a handful of things:

• Work-life balance
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Roles with a clear purpose
• Firm boundaries at work

You only have to scroll through TikTok or LinkedIn to see it. Younger workers are openly turning their backs on toxic environments, glorified overwork and being reachable at all hours. The “quiet quitting” trend alone has racked up 74.8 million posts on TikTok.

Why prestige is not enough any more

Amanda Augustine, a career expert at TopCV and a certified professional career coach, says taking on a job like Andy’s was once seen as a necessary step towards success. These days, a famous name is not reason enough to put up with burnout.

In her view, Gen Z cares about autonomy, authenticity and alignment with their own values, not simply a big brand on the CV. If Miranda Priestly posted that job advert now, she suggests most young candidates would scroll straight past it, unless it came with room to grow, some flexibility and basic respect.

Younger professionals also tend to be choosier about where they spend their energy. Augustine says they know their worth and are far more strategic about it.

The Glassdoor test

There is another big difference between 2006 and now: information. Before applying anywhere, many candidates will check a company’s Glassdoor reviews. Augustine reckons that a quick read of the feedback on an employer like Miranda’s would be enough for many to walk away. No opportunity, the thinking goes, is worth putting up with a toxic boss and a working life that cannot be sustained.

It is a world away from the idea that you must suffer for your career. Phrases like “quiet quitting” and “acting your wage” have entered everyday conversation, and you can see their influence in how younger people write their CVs and present themselves to employers.

Drive has not disappeared

None of this means young workers lack ambition. Augustine notes that more candidates are shaping their applications to show off their skills and drive while also making it clear that they value healthy boundaries. They simply want careers they can keep up for the long haul.

That has a message for employers. Companies that fail to recognise the shift, she warns, will struggle to attract the best emerging talent. Flexibility, respect and real chances to progress are fast becoming the price of entry.

So would Andy say yes?

As the sequel heads towards the screen, it is a fun question for job seekers and bosses alike. Would Andy accept the assistant role if she saw it advertised now, or would she take one look at the details and ghost the recruiter? Given everything above, the second option feels rather likely. It will be interesting to see how the new film handles a world where saying no to a boss has become so much more common.