How Gen Z ‘corporate girlies’ took over TikTok

Louise arrives at the office at 8:00 a.m. At 8:15 a.m., she responds to emails and preps for meetings, before working on a powerpoint deck for a client. Making a coffee at 11:00 a.m., her afternoon is then filled with meetings. After work she heads to a networking event at 6:00 p.m. How do I know all this? I’ve just watched her corporate ‘day in the life’ video—along with 3.1 million other people.

Another video titled “a week in the life Big 4 accountant” shows clips of her freshly manicured hand clutching a laptop, walking into a city high-rise in a smart tailored suit and stiletto heels. The video also has racked up over 80,000 views. On TikTok, corporate girlies are documenting their 9-to-5s, from work-appropriate “outfit-of-the-day” to “what’s in my work bag” videos. And people are watching. 

Being a “corporate girlie” is all about romanticizing the grind. It’s career porn that feels like soft luxury: waking up early, hitting the gym, grabbing a coffee or green juice en route to the office, and documenting the perfect desk setup or cinematic views from the office. Post-work, there’s a meal-prepped dinner, a few chapters of a book by the soft glow of a candle, and an early bed-time, ready to do it all again tomorrow. 

Far from the “quiet quitters” stereotype, these corporate girlies (and guys) are all-in on office life and the stability of a steady paycheck. If their TikToks are to be believed, a corporate job is seemingly the ultimate life-hack—complete with city views and free coffee. Weekends off, after-work drinks, and getting to wear cute outfits are just some of the perks listed in one TikTok video. “Being a corporate girly is where it’s at.” 

Gen Z are buying into it, sticking with companies 18% longer than millennials did in their first seven years on the job, aligning more with Gen X and boomers in their loyalty to one place. And after a long day at the office, what’s the ultimate way to relax? Watching someone else’s carefully curated, timestamped work day.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91195642/how-gen-z-corporate-girlies-took-over-tiktok?partner=rss&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss+fastcompany&utm_content=rss