Understanding and Attracting Millennials

Millennials (also known as the Millennial Generation or Generation Y) are the demographic cohort following Generation X. There are no precise dates when the generation starts and ends; most researchers and commentators use birth years ranging from the early 1980s to the early 2000s.

Neil Howe and William Strauss, authors of the 1991 book Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069, are often credited with coining the term. Howe and Strauss define the Millennial cohort as consisting of individuals born between 1982 and 2004. However, there are some who believe the beginning date of the Millennial Generation is 1976.

With every generation, there are variations of a broad range of tendencies, which come about due to the environment that each generation experiences. Thus, there are similar behaviors in the classroom, workplace, their interaction with technology, etc. This generation has been most exposed to technology and social networking, as well as receiving the most marketing attention of any previous generation. They have also been told to “follow their dreams” and have been told repeatedly “they are special.” This could be a good environment, though many Millennials are seen as overly confident and optimistic, as well as possessing an attitude of “entitlement.” Unfortunately, Millennials are the first generation since those who followed the “Silent Era” (people born from the mid 1920s to the early 1940s), who are not expected to be as successful as their parents.

By contrast, Generation Y can be more skeptical and values a positive work environment. They also are more adept at technology as compared to previous generations, plus they can be more capable of multi-tasking. Their skepticism includes faith in large institutions. However, they can be good advocates for employees.

As for what attracts Millennials to a particular job or company, here are some tips:

• They like to believe their roles/positions fulfill a purpose in which they believe.
• Similarly, they like to believe that their employer and its business are making a positive contribution to the community.
• Millennials want to see themselves as “partnering” with an employer and not just being “another employee.”
• Another BIG and important factor is for the employer to value Millennials and their capabilities by “investing in their future careers” with effective training, and not just a one-time or one-day offer. Generation Y wants employers to promote “Career Development.”
• If a company wants to attract Millennials, they need to understand that this generation highly values specific traits in their leaders/supervisors. They need leaders/supervisors to be intelligent, strategic, inspirational, personable, etc.
• If you/employer are using old hiring practices, you are probably not attracting good Millennials.

Robyn Crigger is Managing Partner, OI Global Partners – Compass Career Management Solutions in Charlotte, NC. Trained and experienced in various Human Resources areas from assessments to executive coaching, Robyn strives to provide professional assistance to both companies and individuals faced with transitions.