You may be hearing more and more about of the term “Millennials” when discussing job searching these days. That is because this group of individuals is are currently taking over the work force. Millennials include everyone born from 1982 to 2000, which is roughly 70 million Americans. Though you might not think it is wise to hire a twenty-something right out of college with less experience, you should give it another look. Before discounting all of these Generation Y’ers as “kids”, here are 8 things you should know about them.
1. They like flexible work spaces. Millennials are constantly connected, whether it be to a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Last month, oDesk reported that about 90 percent of Millennials are interested in flexible work arrangements. Being connected all the time leaves room for millennials to leave the office and work from home or the local coffee shop.
2. They’re technologically inclined. The most definitive feature of millennials is their knowledge and immersion in technology. Millennials have a knowledge of computers and social media far beyond that of older generations because this technology is already part of their lives. It might even save money on tech support if you hire employees that cannot remember life without internet.
3. They may be cost efficient. People that graduate during a recession are much more likely to settle on a starting salary. This gives applicants with less experience a lower price tag than those that are more qualified. Depending on the position, a lower price tag with a little extra training might be exactly what you need.
4. They’re adaptive. With the economy as it is today, there is no telling what the future will bring. Millennials thrive on this mindset. They welcome change and can adapt to fit the needs of the job. Millennials are also more willing to learn new about technology, and are constantly up to date from internet news sources.
5. They’re team players and love to collaborate. They share ideas through all kinds of social media sites and internet databases. This skill makes millennials ideal candidates for group work, large projects and collaboration.
6. They are ambitious. According to an article in The Atlantic, productivity has significantly increased since 1995, while wages have stayed about the same. This means millennials are working much harder for the same pay. Millennials also value career progression and personal growth above all other factors in their current job.
7. They’re impatient. Millenials want answers right now. Most of this is due to the accessibility to the internet, but if millennials want an answer to a question they find it immediately. This makes them virtual bloodhounds on the researching front. However, this aversion to ambiguity also causes impatience for questions to be answered by others in the workplace.
8. They like helping the community. Millennials love green initiatives. According to the Rapid Learning Institute, 50% of millennials have done some sort of community service in the past year. Include an environmental effort or charitable cause and millennials find a sense of pride in their work and feel that sense of meaning. They have a need for a meaningful job and prioritize meaningful work over pay or achievement.
Individuals in the “millennial” category are different from any other demographic in the workplace. Whether you find this good or bad, it is a reality. Millennials are here to stay and adjusting your workplace or hiring a millennial might be just what you need.
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