Millennial Motivation: What These Job Seekers Really Want
Millennials, those digital natives born between 1981 and 1998, are coming of age in the business world and now represent most mid-level marketers. They comprise more than 34 percent of the workforce according to staffing giant Adecco USA.
This generation is passionate about doing meaningful work. And they will work tirelessly if they believe the work is valuable. So how do you attract top Millennial talent?
What Millennials Really Want
In 2016, LaSalle Network surveyed 13 thousand recent and soon-to-be college graduates about what they are looking for in a job. Sixty percent of respondents were open to taking a temporary role especially if it could lead to a permanent position. This trend could signify a positive shift toward temp work as a way to gain real-world experience soon after graduating college. The survey also showed respondents are looking for:
- Opportunities for growth
- Work/life balance
- Training and development opportunities
- Challenging work
- Autonomy
- The ability to work remotely
Millennials also want to know what companies stand for and how they can make an impact on the bottom line. In a “Millennials in the Workplace” survey by the Futurestep division of Korn Ferry, 38 percent said they would choose one job over another because of “visibility and buy-in to the mission and vision of the organization.” Respondents also said they are less willing to work long hours, they would like the ability to work remotely, and they prefer ongoing feedback to assess their performance and to understand how they fit into the organization.
Some of these results are on par with what we found in our 2017 Marketing Hiring Trends report. Millennials said they want paid time off for vacation and separate paid time off for illness. Sound familiar? These mid-level marketers also value the ability to work from home on occasion to help ease a lengthy or stressful commute and to balance their personal and working hours (telecommuting). And they also value flex time – the ability to alter their start or end times and days worked each week – and the ability to work remotely.
According to the hiring managers we surveyed, mid-level marketers – aka Millennials – will be the most hired for positions this year. So, if your organization wants to attract and keep these in-demand workers, you must offer perks and benefits that matter to them.
