According to a Pew Research Center analysis, more than one-in-three (35%) American workers are millennials, making them the largest generation active in the labor force.
As of 2017, 56 million millennials were working or looking for work. That’s compared to 53 million Generation Xers and well ahead of the 41 million Baby Boomers, who represent a quarter of the total.
With more Boomers retiring every year, employers cannot afford to ignore millennials. Yet, recruiting and hiring millennials presents unique challenges and requires some changes to the usual way of doing business.
Who are Millennials?
Millennials are considered to be those born between 1981-96. While generalizations about any group should be approached with caution, most experts agree that millennials possess unique career preferences and ambitions compared to other generations. These include a desire for flexibility, involvement and meaning in their work.
More so than previous generations, millennials place great importance on social causes and sense of purpose. This carries over to the type of organization they chose to work for. In Deloitte’s 2018 Millennial Survey, six in 10 respondents said “sense of purpose” is part of the reason they chose their current employer.
Millennials want to feel that their work is relevant and that their employer contributes to the common good. An article in Crain’s Chicago summed it up nicely:
Corporate social responsibility is, increasingly, how organizations sell themselves to potential employees. Three in four young adults who say they consider themselves social activists say they seek out employers that support a social cause, according to the TBWA survey. Seeking to align themselves with corporations that are attempting to give back to the world is very much a part of their career calling. Andrew Swinand. Corporate social responsibility is millennials’ new religion – Crain’s Chicago Business March 25, 2014
How to attract Millennials
What you value as a company means as much to your millennial prospects as the job description and pay scale.
Do you have a strong mission and vision statement? Is it clearly stated on your website or around your office? Do you support these statements with social media posts? It is one thing, for example, to say that you believe in a small carbon footprint, but another to prove it by increasing your recycling efforts, becoming LEAD certified and disposing of waste responsibly.
How do you give back to your community? Do you participate in food drives, Toys for Tots, scholarships, or do you present your craft at a local high school (this is a great way to plant seeds for future employees)?
Actions speak much louder than words. Your millennial prospects value authenticity. Give examples of your efforts and activities. and post photos on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. You should also add relevant information to the community page of your website.
NWI Business Solutions is committed to helping companies maximize their recruitment efforts – including creating programs and content designed to appeal to millennials as well as other prospective employees.
Drop me a line if you would like more information about our courses or marketing programs, or even just to share some of your own recruitment ideas.
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