What Millennials Want (And How to Work With Them)

Many people agree that there is a high demand to diversify the workforce with young specialists bearing fresh ideas and new perspectives. Furthermore, we need to prepare this growing generation for leadership roles across many industries, ensuring stability and financial prosperity for our future. However, millennials share very different views on one’s life’s calling, to educate this young blood, we need to understand what attracts them to the matters of employment.

There are more millennials in the workforce than any other generation – a full 86 million by 2020, and they are all looking for something more than just a nine to five and a paycheck. As they enter their respective fields, they transform the office environment. They question the nose-to-the-grindstone work culture established by baby boomers and want a career that integrates with their lifestyle. For this reason, other generations sometimes see millennials as a threat in the workplace because they feel these younger employees are challenging authority. Therefore, they’re often hesitant to hire them.

Change is scary. Most of us are set in our ways and content in keeping things that way. And yet, statistics show that 83% of workers say they're stressed about their jobs, with nearly half of those relating sleep problems to work-related issues. So maybe we should listen to what these millennials are suggesting and loosen up a bit. Let’s start with the basics and dive into the mindset of the modern-day millennial.

Here's what millennials look for in a career

• 37 percent of millennials would take a pay cut if it meant flexibility in work location and hours.

 

• 81 percent of millennials think they should set their own work schedules versus 69 percent of baby boomers.

 

• 64 percent of them say it's a priority for them to make the world a better place.

 

• 72 percent would like to be their own boss. But if they do have to work for a boss, 79 percent of them would want that boss to serve more as a coach or mentor.

 

• 88 percent prefer a collaborative work-culture rather than a competitive one.

 

• 88 percent want “work-life integration,” which isn’t the same as work-life balance since work and life now blend together inextricably.

Now that you know what attracts them, how are you going to work with them? The following nine tips will help you work best with millennials while helping them reach their highest potential and taking advantage of the unique skills they can bring to the table.

1. Provide structure without micromanaging.
2. Provide leadership and guidance.
3. Encourage their self-assuredness and can-do attitude.
4. Take advantage of their comfort level with teams.
5. Listen to them.
6. Challenge them.
7. Allow them to work how they want and don’t worry about their focus.
8. They’re tech-savvy – take advantage of it.
9. Provide a fun, employee-centered, work-life balanced workplace.

Seventy-five million millennials are joining the workforce. We need to bridge the gap between our current generational divide and find ways to attract the emerging working class to the careers we feel so passionately about. Make your millennial employees happy in a fun, yet structured setting, and you will be one step closer to building the foundation for a superior work culture.

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• Category: Business Advice
• Tags: Millennials, Diversity, Business Advice, Work culture, Career Advice