So you Want to Hire a Millennial: A Letter from One of Them.
I am 25 years old
and graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree
in Creative Writing and Nonprofit Organizations. I packed up
everything I could fit into my small orange car and headed west for
the mountains upon graduation in 2016.
But wait, I should
scrap that first part because I think the biggest message we’re
receiving is that it isn’t about us. And we have a tendency to
make it all about us.
And it’s not.
I have heard
frustrated business owners fret over their millennial employees
making comments like:
“Millennials are
lazy, narcissistic, frantic job-hoppers and entitled little $%*@s”
And they’re
probably right.
Compared to how they
were raised, the economic conditions of their upbringing and
the decisions and life choices they had to toil with and
resolve.
The Millennial
Generation’s economic conditions and parenting styles they were
raised with are vastly different from those of the Baby Boomer
Generation. The Baby Boomer Generation was raised by The Silent
Generation, one that was meant to be seen but not heard as children.
Millennials grew up with parents telling them they could, “Do
anything!”, “Be anything!” and “Sally, you are so special!”
Neither parenting
style is wrong.
The culture was
doing what they thought was best for their family during that period
of time.
Millennials have
more opportunity and greater freedom in choice which has created a
higher investment in personal experiences and less interest in
climbing the corporate ladder.
Millennials are
truly following their hearts, it’s no cliché.
The Pew Research
Center estimates that the Millennial Generation (ages 20-35) will
overtake the Baby Boomers (ages 52-70) by 2019. Generation X (ages
36-51) will pass the Boomers around 2028. We can obviously seen a
baton-passing of sorts going on here.
Millennials are all
ready to flow with their yoga mats, or I mean enter the work-force.
Generation X is still struggling with the fact that they’re the
middle child and strives for simple happiness. And the Baby Boomer
Generation just wants the younger ones to be thankful for what
they’re created and fought for.
Those are three very different generations, all found within one
workplace. They are all trying (I hope) to work together for succession and
growth.
Simon Sinek, a Generation X’er that speaks boldly about the Millennial Generation in the workplace, says,
Simon Sinek, a Generation X’er that speaks boldly about the Millennial Generation in the workplace, says,
“Over 90% of people go home at the end of the day feeling unfulfilled by their work, and I won’t stop [my mission] until that statistic is reversed...”
So, much over-due, here is my humble letter to the Baby Boomer
Generation.
Dear Baby Boomer Generation,
Thank you for all you’ve done.
Thank you
for fighting for our freedom. Thank you for placing family life first.
Thank you mothers and fathers for devoting your life to raising
healthy children. Thank you mothers and fathers for putting in long
hours at work just to provide for your family. Thank you for choosing
the best route for your family, not the easiest route.
While you may be frustrated with the
Millennial Generation in the workplace, here are a few tips to work
better with my bothers and sisters:
1. Invest In The Why
It’s all about the why. Why does your
business exist? Millennials are less driven by a paycheck and more by
the passion of the work. If they don’t feel “fulfilled” in the
workplace, they will keep on job hoppin’.
2. Provide Opportunities For Growth
Millennials want to grow. They want to
invest in themselves through learning. Provide them with trainings,
spend time with them in training, put aside funds to invest in new
staff in general. All of these things will benefit the business.
3. Be Open
They have high expectations. They are also
not afraid to challenge authority. Even if you’ve done something
the same way for the past 45 years, be open to trying new ideas.
4. Give Feedback
They need affirmations. On the flip side,
they also can handle constructive feedback quite well. They grew up
playing a lot of team sports and can handle correction.
5. Technology
They were born into it. Use this to your
advantage. They are wiling to help you learn how to use cutting edge
technology. This will simplify your business efforts and management.
I am just one voice in 72 million
Millennials but I did use a lot of sources to put this post together
:) View any of them at the bottom... And I had to throw in one
completely inappropriate emoji smiley, just for funsies.
Last note: We aren’t that different from
you. Your twenties aren’t hidden from history. We still care about
equality, freedom, the cause, and The Beatles.
Sincerely with love,
One of them.
Sources:
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