You are in charge of your business, making all the hiring and firing decisions. But do you know what it takes to keep today’s younger generation engaged and committed to your company?
By 2014, Millennials will make up 34% of the U.S. workforce, and that number will rise to 46% by 2020. As you plan for the future of your company, it’s clear that this generation will play a significant role—and that’s a good thing. Millennials bring a lot of value to the workplace. They are tech-savvy, self-expressive, cost-effective, and team-oriented.
So, how can you attract and hire a strong group of Millennials? Here are some tips:
1. Offer Training and Career Growth Opportunities
According to Forbes, Millennials are driven by learning and growth, with 65% saying that the opportunity for personal development is the most important aspect of their job. This means you should avoid offering dead-end jobs. If your company has limited advancement opportunities, consider offering training in related fields. With their ability to multitask, you might find that they can contribute more to your business than you initially expected.
2. Provide Challenges
Millennials are often eager to face new challenges and test themselves. While some tasks will inevitably be repetitive, try to mix in more exciting and challenging assignments. If you offer a Millennial a data-entry position, don’t be surprised if they decline or leave after a few months, even if the pay is good.
3. Give Them Meaningful Work and Communicate Its Importance
According to Undercover Recruiter, Millennials value meaningful work over high pay. Don’t treat your new or potential Generation Y employees like unpaid interns. Assign them work that clearly contributes to your company’s success, and make sure they know how their efforts make a difference. Millennials often thrive on feedback, so let them know they hold an important role in your organization.
4. Promote Work-Life Balance
Millennials are used to juggling busy lives with multiple responsibilities. Working for your company is just one part of their life, and they won’t be like the Baby Boomers who were willing to work 60-70-80 hours a week. That’s not to say Generation Y isn’t productive—they can be highly effective—but they prefer to work at a pace that fits their lifestyle. Show them you understand their need for a personal life by exploring options like telecommuting, flexible work hours, or a results-oriented work environment.
5. Keep Your Technology Up-to-Date
While older generations have adapted to the digital age, Millennials were born into it. They’ve grown up with technology in their homes and hands. Keep your website, blog, and social media platforms current. As Dice mentioned in their article on hiring Millennials, “Nothing screams ‘we don’t care about our company’ more than a blog that hasn’t been updated in a year or a Twitter feed without a personalized avatar.” You don’t want prospective Gen Y employees to think your company is outdated or uninterested in staying current.
6. Offer International Opportunities or Training
This may seem like a stretch, but if you can make it happen, go for it! Young people have always enjoyed traveling, and Millennials are no different. According to a study by PwC, 71% of Millennials want an overseas assignment at some point in their career. With today’s technology allowing work to be done from almost anywhere, it can be very appealing to send your new hires to your international offices for training or their first assignment. If you don’t have overseas connections, that’s understandable—but if you do, take advantage of Millennials’ love for travel.
Bottom Line: Millennials may be different, but their differences can be a game-changer for your business. Don’t let those differences keep you from leveraging their creativity, tech skills, and commitment to meaningful work.
What can you offer Millennials?
– Career advancement opportunities?
– Specialized training?
– Unique challenges?
– International opportunities?
– What else?
