Continuing the employment series, Frontline Retail shares its insight into what to expect when hiring millennials.
Do you regard Millennial workers as challenging and unreliable, or the sparks which light your workplace creativity?
Whatever your view, Millennial or Gen Y workers will make up 75% of Australia’s workforce by 2025, according to a study by workforce management company Kronos.
Already the single biggest age group in New Zealand’s workforce, Millennials will make up the majority of the labour force within five years, according to Statistics New Zealand.
It’s impossible to overlook Millennials or Gen Y’ers – born between 1981 and 1997 – in the contemporary workplace.
Frontline Retail looks at five important things you need to consider when hiring Millennials.
Build in work-life balance
If the role isn’t flexible and accommodating, you probably won’t hold on to your Millennial employee for long.
A LinkedIn survey shows that Millennials change their jobs twice as often the previous generation (Gen X), both within and between industries.
Many like to try out different jobs before settling on a longer-term career, and most want a long-term job that gives them room to move.
Built-in job flexibility can appeal to the Gen Y desire for freedom, so flexible hours, generous leave and more open work practices can give your retail recruitment a boost.
Allow more autonomy
Millennial workers are looking for genuine growth opportunities as well as greater scope to make their own decisions.
The Deloitte Millennial Survey 2016 shows a lack of loyalty among Millennials to their employers, with two-thirds wanting to leave their current organisations by 2020 because of perceived lack of development options and a desire to go it alone.
Offering clear professional development opportunities along with chances for workers to give feedback and make autonomous decisions can make your workplace far more attractive to talented young Millennials.
Introduce technology
A J2Global survey shows Millennials to be the most connected generation in human history. Bringing the latest technology into your workplace can engage Millennial workers on a deeper level.
Working with the most effective digital equipment can streamline your retail space and improve productivity as well as attracting and retaining strong Millennial candidates.
Get social
If you don’t already have active social media channels, now is a good time to start.
Millennials live and breathe social media, so are likely to appreciate a company that is ‘switched on’.
The LinkedIn survey reveals that 90% of workers now network while looking for their next job, so you will be in a good position to attract new workers via your social media channels too.
Give Millennials a real go
Millennial workers get fed-up with being called lazy and unreliable, and Gen Y offers a wealth of skilled, creative and forward-thinking candidates.
If you make a genuine attempt to give them a go and respect what they have to offer, they are far more likely to reward you with the productivity and loyalty you seek.