“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” -George Bernard Shaw
77 million adults make up a unique generation that many managers and leaders fear they don’t familiarize with – millennials. The reason behind some of the misunderstanding of millennials is the fact that they possess a new and distinct set of priorities in the workplace.
Many of these needs haven’t been addressed in great detail up until recently. However, when leaders look further into what millennials find important—they will soon realize that millennials are not so tricky after all. This powerful generation of 20 and 30-somethings makes up approximately 24 percent of the working population, and will surpass 50 percent by 2020. Therefore, it’s important for businesses to make sure they’re offering benefits and support that appeal to these direct needs.
I recently came across an article by Entrepreneur.com that talks about the factors millennials want in the workplace. I’ve written about the topic before and decided to share some of the article’s interesting tips along with a few of my own thoughts in the 4 Things Millennials Seek from Employers below.
1. A Healthy Work-Life Balance
A popular work-life balance benefit that millennials seek when searching for a job is flexibility. They believe the quality of work they put in is far more valuable than the number of hours that make up their work day. Rather than a typical 9 to 5, millennials desire the ability to occasionally work from home, flexible hours and a good amount of PTO. These small, yet impactful benefits can give these employees more time to spend with their family and friends, and time to refresh their minds for the next work day.
2. Personal Development Opportunities
The ability to grow and develop, personally and professionally, is a benefit that millennials are constantly striving to achieve. They seek careers within an organization where there is a clear opportunity for growth. They also seek businesses who offer programs that focus on skills development and leadership training. Mentoring these individuals will not only benefit them, but it will also benefit the company by building strong internal leaders.
3. A Path to Success
Not only are millennials focused on their own growth, but they’re motivated by the overall progression of the company. They want to see the success they’ve achieved and know that their contributions are directly impacting the business’ success. With this in mind, it’s important for these individuals to be recognized or reassured that their work and efforts play a critical role in the big picture. Being a part of the solution is attractive to millennials and allows them to see their success.
4. A Meaningful Career
The difference between millennials and previous generations is that millennials tend to value purpose over paychecks when it comes to job searches. They want a career that inspires them ethically and morally. This benefit ties in with the overall culture of the company. If the brand and vision of the company is strong, a millennial will feel more compelled to be a part of it.
These are only a few things that millennials seek from employers. Do you have other suggestions? Comment below and let us know!