Since Kaitlin Slack was born at the Jane Crookall Maternity unit at 10.18pm on December 31, 1999, a series of world-changing events have taken place.

Twin Towers, the War on Terror, the election of the first black president of the United States and the emergence of social media, to name but a few.

The people who have grown up alongside these changes are now starting to enter the workforce. Kaitlin is one of them.

So, what can we expect to see? Well, according to industry research [and without wanting to generalise], the Gen Zers are thought to be more resilient than their Millennial predecessors.

They are also said to be less brand-conscious and more prudent with their money.

A force to be reckoned with? Very much so, if Kaitlin Slack is anything to go on.

She went to Scoill Vallajeelt and Ballakermeen High School. After finishing her A Levels last May, the 18-year-old from Douglas hit a fork in the road - should she go to university or stay on the Isle of Man and get a job?

It wasn’t a straightforward decision, but when she saw a job advertised for a creative assistant at plan.com, a business telecoms provider based in Douglas, her future began to take shape.

A road less travelled

’All my friends were talking about university, but I wasn’t sure it was right for me,’ she explained.

’Ever since I was old enough I wanted to work and be independent. I got my first job at 15 because I wanted to earn some cash and the thought of leaving university with loads of debt didn’t appeal to me.’

But the job at plan.com did. It had a specification that ticked all of Kaitlin’s boxes. After all, it was a marketing role requiring social media wizardry.

’I couldn’t believe my eyes - everything they wanted was something I was interested in, so I applied and got the job,’ she smiled.

’I didn’t miss a beat. I left school in May, had my exams in June and started at plan.com in July.

’One of the best things about the job is that plan.com is sponsoring me to study and gain qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

’That means I can earn money at the same time as getting qualified. In three-years’ time, I’ll have the equivalent of an undergraduate degree but without the debt.

’This way I learn about marketing every day and then I go home to study the background and theory. I think it’s the best way to learn,’ she added.

In September this year, while most of her contemporaries were enjoying the delights of Freshers’ Week, Kaitlin was scheduling her time to make sure she could fit everything in.

Baptism of fire

Her new daily routine takes discipline and determination. She gets up at 7am, goes to the gym, works until 6pm and then returns home to have tea and study for her exams.

It might seem like a baptism of fire, but she’s taking it all in her stride.

’It took me a few weeks to get used to the long days but now I’m really enjoying it. I feel like I’ve changed a lot. It’s weird - I feel like an adult,’ she said.

’When I started at plan.com, I was the youngest person here and people saw me as the baby of the office. Now they just see me as another colleague.

’Working is completely different to being at school. It’s not the easy option; the hours are longer and a lot more is asked of you, but I really love being independent and paying my way,’ she said.

Kaitlin attributes her strong work ethic to her parents, who set the standard.

She was encouraged to get a part-time job when she was 15 and once she’d tasted the freedom of earning her own cash, there was no stopping her.

She worked in an ice cream parlour, a jewellery shop, a bike shop and now she’s with plan.com, who were recently recognised by The Sunday Times as the fastest growing tech firm in the United Kingdom and one of the Best Small Companies to Work For.

The first pay cheque

’My mum and dad are the best role models in the world, they taught me the importance of working hard,’ she said.

’Who wouldn’t want to work and be independent? Getting your first pay cheque is an amazing feeling and it’s great to be able to give my mum money at the end of the month, it makes me feel like I am paying my way.

’Who knows, it might have been amazing to go to university but getting a job and qualifications at the same time feels like the best decision I’ve ever made,’ she added.

Yes, you heard right, this 18-year-old contributes towards household bills.

It’s something she said she’s happy to do because ’it’s good training for when she owns her own home’.

While she admits to splashing out every now and again, Kaitlin understands the value of money.

’I know how much it costs to do a supermarket shop and I know how expensive bills are. I never take any of that stuff for granted. I’m grateful for everything and I’m also realistic.’

Practicality is also characteristic of the Gen Zers who, having grown up during the global financial crisis, are said to be more concerned about the economy.

It’s what makes them so good at adapting to the world of business. That and their social media expertise.

The Gen Zers are not only social media savvy: they are social media. There’s no separation.

They never had to learn how to do it - it was part of their landscape growing up.

It means that they are well-placed to soak up the growing number of jobs in the digital space, said Kaitlin.

’Most companies have a presence on social media now and I’m really into the whole thing, but there is a downside to it all - it needs to be well planned and carefully managed.

’When you’re a kid you think you have to be like the celebrities but that’s just a load of rubbish.

’Professionally, as a business you need a social media presence, but it needs to be monitored if you’re going to make the best of it.

’At least that’s what I tell my grandma - I’ve been teaching her how to use her new iPad and now she’s got a Fitbit. These things should be for everyone, not just my generation.’ Kaitlin has one brother Nathan, 14. And how is she going to celebrate her birthday on New Year’s Eve, 2018?

She said: ’I’m going to hit the town with my friends.’

Kaitlin Slack shunned the idea of going to university by going to work

Birthday girl: Kaitlin’s 18th birthday with mum and dad Alison and Gary

Kaitlin Slack pictured shortly after her birth on New Year’s Eve, 1999 with mum Alison Slack and dad Gary. She weighed seven pounds and six ounces.The picture was taken by a photographer from Isle of Man Newspapers and was featured in one of our papers

Kaitlin Slack was the last person to be born in the Isle of Man in the 20th Century. Her unusual birthday makes her part of Generation Z (generally anyone born after 1997), a demographic that currently makes up a third of the world’s population.

Also known as the ’Post-Millennials’, the Gen Zers are digital natives for whom smartphones and free Wi-Fi are standard.

Kaitlin talks about the importance of a good old-fashioned work ethic in a virtual world.