What are millennials looking for in a company when finding a new job?
Whether you're ready or not, your company is going to be met with a new workforce that it’s going to have to compete for. Baby boomers are retiring, making way for the new generation--millennials. According to TruPath, Millennials will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025, and the kind of companies they want to work for are those they can identify with. Older companies are going to have to compete with startups in how they recruit talent, and while it is a challenge, it can be done if businesses are willing to change in company culture and purpose. Here are a few things you should keep in mind while talent recruiting.
Millennials Always Want To See Something New From A Company
Whether your current needs are in the R&D department, human resources, marketing or finance, you need to always be pushing for innovation and bringing in new things. Millennials tend to gravitate towards companies with social purpose. Young people want to feel like they are part of a team that’s changing the world. The days of working a menial desk job are in the past, find ways to lead social change and millennials will come to you.
Millennials Tend To Be Nontraditional In How They Like The Workplace Setup
Office spaces are changing. Providers are moving away from old setups where employees were isolated in cubicles or closed offices. Now companies are encouraging open desk space, tables, and other formats that make for a comfortable and collaborative workflow. Good lighting, comfortable furniture, plants, and fresh air are the new staples. Some companies have even started leasing out shared office spaces in locations outside their main office in order to make the workplace more productive. Either way you want to go, the comfort of the workplace definitely matters to millennials.
Millennials Want To Know Your Company Offers A Long-term Career Path
Most millennials aren't going to want to stay at a company that doesn't provide opportunities to advance. They want to know their work is going to pay dividends down the road and allow them to move through the company. This doesn't necessarily mean just vertical movement, but horizontal movement as well.
You want to make sure millennials know that, as they continue with the company and meet their goals, they'll get from point A to point B.
Millennials Want A Company Offering Perks They Like
You want to make sure your employees feel at home when they join your company. They're more likely to stay if they're given great perks. This can be bonus earnings or special prizes if they meet certain goals. It could even be an add-on such as gym membership or a “culture card” to use for office purchases like flowers or fun snacks. Another important benefit you should emphasize is vacation time. Whether your company offers limited or unlimited vacation make sure employees know that time off is encouraged, not frowned upon. Millennials value experiences more than material objects, so give them the time to go make those memories.
Millennials Like Diversity In The Workplace
It's not just what they're working with, but who they're working with that matters to millennials. Younger people find diversity more important than merit. Company leaders should consider what they can do to bring together people of all different backgrounds, and develop an environment that prides itself on embracing different ideas.
Why You Need Millennials
It might sound silly to adjust your company to appeal to one generation, but considering that this generation will make up a big chunk of the workforce, it’s imperative that you make those adjustments. If you’re concerned about where millennials fit in the picture, try giving them a pre-hire talent assessment. This will ensure that you make the right decision for the longevity of the company and its employees.
GUEST AUTHOR: Taline Schmidt is a contributing writer for Markitors, a Digital Marketing Company. In her free time she likes to paint and listen to TEDtalks.
Topics: Recruiting and Sourcing, talent acquisition, Millennials, Talent Assessment