Millennial invasion of the workforce
Who are these millennials?
The U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics has estimated that by the year 2030, millennials will make up for about 75% of the total workforce in the United States. This means they will run the majority of well over half of every sector in the not-so-distant future. Who are these millennials?
Known as ‘Generation Y’ (although they don’t call themselves that), they were born between 1984 and 2000. These tech-savvy young people, taught to believe that the world is at their feet, are the future leaders of corporate organizations and every workplace in the world. Dubbed the children of the internet, having an avalanche of information at their fingertips, they have been alleged to be typically tough to manage and criminally unserious. Socializing outdoors and relating to people outside a virtual world is an alien concept to them. With social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram available to them, the days of kids meeting outdoors to ride their bikes or play a game of soccer are long gone. They lack eye-to-eye social skills, and can only communicate and interact with others via the internet.
However, they are far from parochial and are very open to endless possibilities, ideas, and opportunities around them with such flexibility. Their knack for always wanting to be singled out and their lack of basic soft skills make them quite the complicated bunch. This generation finds some level of difficulty in working, communicating, and sharing with others in real-world settings. They’ve been called lazy for their lack of understanding that not all things happen instantly and that quality takes time. This is not their fault. After all, they were born to clean slates, fed by people around them, and their environment.
Having a good and in-depth understanding of this new wave of workers is crucial to maintaining the growth of companies they will inevitably be found in. Three provoking thoughts about millennials are:
1. MILLENNIALS AND TECHNOLOGY ARE LIKE PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY:
From the moment they opened their eyes to this world and squinted at the light that hit them in the face, millennials have been surrounded by technology. From the kind of toys they play with, to how they carry out assignments in school, to their source of entertainment, there is no shutting down or turning down with this generation. They are always connected. Their dependence on technology has eaten deep into the core of their being that they can be said to be addicts.
Their whole lives from work to play is completely submerged in technology. At home, they are never away from their mobile devices. It is the first thing they touch when they wake, and the last thing they touch when they go to bed. At work, they want it to be the same. While working, they will still bring out their phones to catch up on the latest news, hottest trend or juiciest gossip even at meetings. Thru their phones, they love to share and learn new things. This dependency on technology to socialize has left them lacking the social skills to form networks with individuals and meaningful relationships.
However, millennials can solve a lot of problems with technology, such as saving documents in clouds where they can be accessed with ease. They are quick learners, and a good training on soft skills would sharpen them. Attracting talented millennial employees and keeping them would involve companies having an emphasis on technology and an online presence.
2. MILLENNIALS LOVE TO BE SEEN AS UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS:
Growing up millennials have been fed with a lot of notions that they possess unique features that make up their personalities, and they should stand out and find expressions of themselves in everything they do. This makes them want everything around them to be crafted to suit them. From their physical workstations to the backgrounds of their desktop, customization is their thing. They want to see themselves in everything they do. Making jobs and careers flexible is a way to keep millennial feeling comfortable and accepted in an organization, because if they feel that their individuality is being threatened they will leave.
3. MILLENNIALS ENJOY BEING APPRECIATED:
Labeled to be ‘entitled’ attention-seekers, a lot of millennials have deeply wanted to change the world. Their thoughts about being special make them feel the need to be noticed. They are always looking to make an impact and feel unhappy when their efforts are not being singled out and appreciated. This desire for recognition and appreciation is a way to train and improve this generation. Recognizing their efforts and giving them constructive feedback goes a long way. It is a key component of their job satisfaction.
This is the age of the millennial invasion. The millennials are gradually taking over everything. This hardworking, misunderstood generation can add a lot of value to the companies hiring them with the knowledge, experience, and skills they possess handled properly. Hiring Millennial Guru who understands them well enough to help educate and grow this ever-changing generation professionally is an investment that is sure to yield maximum profits.