Millennials (children born in the early 1980s to the mid -1990s) proved to be the first generation of internet-savvy adults. No hesitation, doubts, or mistrust of the global network is the main characteristic of these employees. Therefore, remote working is a natural choice and the most attractive option for them.
As millennials have entered the workforce over the last twenty years, more and more of them have found ways to leverage the internet and make money from home. Now the estimates predict that over 50% of the U.S. workforce will consist of freelancers by 2027.
Hiring a millennial for a remote position may seem a daunting task. But a key to success is to understand the motives, desires, and needs of a millennial.
Work Differences Between Gen X and Millennials
Let’s start at the very beginning. The main difference between these generations lies within the fact that Gen-X employees (born between 1965-1980) faced great technological advancements like cell phones, the Internet, and social media, during their lives, while most millennials grew up regarding these things as a regular part of daily routine. Undoubtedly, this fact has dramatically influenced their lives and careers.
Quitting
Strangely enough, more quits are a sign of a strong job market as workers typically leave jobs for new ones. According to a recent survey, 43 percent of millennials anticipated ditching their job within two years; while members of Generation X were even less likely to be company people, with some 61 percent.
Remote work trade-offs
As it was mentioned before, millennials and Gen Xers differ in their attitude to work flexibility. Thus, the majority of millennials are more likely to quit their jobs because of flexibility issues. Professional autonomy and the opportunity to decide on work and life benefits are essential for millennial employees.
Negotiating work flexibility
Millennials value flexibility more than anything else, while the majority of the Gen-X employees value financial rewards. Thus, 70% of Gen X and Millennial employees would stay at their job for another year if given rewards amounting to only $150 over one year (daVinci Payments). While according to a Deloitte Millennial Survey, 71% of millennials have considered leaving a job because it did not offer flexible work arrangements.
What HR Can Expect With Hiring Millennials
As for now, millennials make the largest segment of the world workforce. These young, creative, and smart people bring a unique viewpoint and fresh perspectives to the companies they work at. However, there are several matters and HR should keep in mind to get the millennials.
Professional Autonomy
Millennials are ambitious. As the most educated generation in history, millennials are constantly looking for new opportunities for growth, responsibility and mobility.
Productivity
Millennials are bloody good multi-taskers. As people who are used to a world full of various technologies and gadgets, they are adapted to doing multiple things at the same time. Besides, millennials are great team players.
Flexibility
Flexibility is everything for the millennials. They expect flexible working hours, a flexible dress code, flexibility in locations and days off. For, sure there is no need to change the whole company code, but you can always find ways to incorporate some flexibility.
Burnout resistance
Despite the common association of the flexible work options with freelancing, millennials prefer the stability of full-time employment. High expectations and willingness to progress make millennials hard workers. Thus, in case you do not provide growth these highly motivated employees may face burnout.
Attracting millennial employees
Due to the fact that millennials now make the largest portion of the workforce, it is important to find your perfect way to attract these motivated and productive candidates for the benefit of your company.
Keep in mind that millennials view their career as something more than just a paycheck. Therefore, a perfect job description that is to attack the millennials should have some specific features tailored according to the needs of the millennial candidates:
1. Favor skills competencies and aptitudes
Millennials like tests, evaluation and assessment. They got used to them in course of education, therefore you will meet no resistance from a millennial candidate offering him some kind of testing during the recruitment process.
Furthermore, they will value such an opportunity. People of this generation strongly believe in that personality staff and psychometric testing. Provide your candidates with an opportunity to feel being treated like a personality. Value their skills and competencies rather than educational background.
2. Highlight benefits rather than salary
Millennials tend to choose good benefits rather than high salaries. Therefore, putting too much emphasis on funds in the job description and while interviewing won’t do you any good.
Be ready to offer more than just a salary. Opportunities, flexibility and recognition are things they value more than dollars.
3. Describe the career path
Forget about traditional approaches to attracting employees by emphasizing the present. Millennials want to know the future. To attract top talent you need to provide this future. A precise cycle of promotions and growth opportunities plays to the impatience of the millennials and makes them engaged in the process. Drawing a career path from the very first stage of the recruitment process helps to attract and retain the talent in-house.
4. Emphasize company culture
A well-designed and shining company culture that speaks for itself seems extremely appealing to the millennials. These candidates require more than stability and security to make a decision. They prefer companies that provide a comfortable environment. Thus, you need to assure them that you value diversity, talent, and creativity, provide a personal touch, and put less stress on ‘settle down matter’.
Millennials want to feel some freedom, see the perspectives, and find room for self-development.
Summary
Millennials often see themselves as a part of a company with a clear vision, mission, and statement. Their natural need is to see and understand how their contribution will integrate into the company’s present and future.
By giving them a sense of purpose and by investing in their further development and training with a touch of autonomy and flexibility you will get a productive and loyal employee.
