Millennials: Hired Today, Gone Tomorrow? By Judy Barth Colorado - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

By Judy Barth Colorado State University Extension

Millennials: Hired Today, Gone Tomorrow?

Millennials – Who are they?

• Generation Y – Born between approximately 1980

and 2000.

• 77-80 million in total
• 56.6 million are currently 18-35 (34% of the current

workforce, 40-50% by 2020)

Definition of Generations

Kowske et al. (2010) defines a generation as: “Members who are around the same ages upon momentous events in society, such as wars, social movements, and significant technological advances.”

Millennials – What makes them who they are?

• Defining Events
• Economy?
• Movies/TV?
• Heroes?
• A CHANGING WORLD!

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt8cfeB

M4mI

Millennials – Stereotypes?

• Digital natives, social media
• Helicopter Parents
• Me-Me-Me!
• Creative, bright, expressive, energetic
• Intelligent, fast thinking, smart
• Sense of individuality
• Fun loving

Millennials – who are they, really?

• A WANTED generation:

– They are special, they can make a difference

• A TARGETED generation (Nickelodeon, MTV,

products). Individuality is important!

• Developmental model of education vs. direct

instruction aimed at test taking – SHARING.

Millennial Values

• Transparency

– Social networks – Branding/Worth – Approachable/ accessible leadership – Making a difference – Authenticity – Experiential/interactive – Loyalty (to people) – Dare to be different, individuality! – Integrated work/life – Fun – Informal but polite – Family & community – Diversity – Collaboration/team work – Support – Tolerance – Achievement oriented – Optimism, hopeful

Millennials – What they believe

• Reinvesting in the community
• Sustainable practices and products
• 44% believe quality of service is most

important factor in selecting stores/brands

• 55.2% trust companies with positive on-line

reviews

• Options!

Millennials – In the Workforce

• Trying is better than succeeding
• 25% of millennials in the work force believe 7

months = loyal employee

• 45% of employees 25-34 are looking for a new job
• 59% of those are in their current job < 5years

= a recipe for TURNOVER!

In the Workforce - continued

• 58% of millennials are in their current job < 3 years,

average stay is 2-3 years

• 52% believe corporate loyalty is outdated
• 61% believe they should be promoted every 2-3

years if they are performing well

• 91% expect to stay at their job < 3 years
• 69% believe daily office attendance is not necessary

What Employers Experience/Believe

• 30% lose 15% or more of their millennial

workforce each year

• 45% report 2x higher turnover rate in

millennials compared to older workers

• 77% of employers expect recent college grads

to stay < 1 year

How to Recruit Millennials

• 1. Provide access to high-level information - transparency.
• 2. Give exposure to clients – direct access to who their work
• affects. How will they contribute/make a difference?
• 3. Effectively communicate how their role supports the larger
• rganizational strategy and success.
• 4. Provide a work culture where they feel good about where they

work and feel integrated into the organization.

• 5. Explain how the work and culture is going to benefit them.
• 6. Describe how the work is effective, fun, and engaging.

Alec Levenson

A caution….

“Employers who wait to recruit and engage prospective candidates after a job opening comes available are already losing the race….You have to start building relationships qualifying candidates and establishing a connection far before you have an

• pening. Otherwise, you are late to your own party.”

Jessica Miller-Merrell, chief blogger and founder Of Blogging4Jobs, writing in a recent piece on the TalentCircles website.

Retaining Millennials

• Coaching. Raised with constant coaching and feedback. Relationship

with boss is key. Once a year evaluations are not enough!

• Collaboration. Natural collaborators, particularly when the group’s

purpose and goals are understood.

• Measures. Raised with a lot of structure and measuring systems.
• Motivation. They want a work environment that is comfortable,

flexible, family oriented, and which inspires them to contribute without fear of being criticized. Meaningful work! Maximizing Millennials in the Workplace – Brack 2012

Retaining Millennials

• Millennials are much less willing to endure unpleasant

conditions on the job.

Goux, 2012. Millennials in the Workplace.

• Provide cooperative/collaborative work – team building
• Culture: Upbeat, open, friendly, competitive fun (think Jeff G.)
• Ask for their ideas, let them share ideas, don‘t condescend
• Help them understand conflict (they have no experience)
• Provide opportunities for meaningful contributions
• Provide self-directed learning opportunities – embrace

technology!

Retaining Millennials

• Engagement is KEY! Invest in them.
• Treat each employee with respect. TY!
• Provide opportunities to accommodate personal and

family values.

• Provide an upward growth path – up or out.
• Keep the doors open for Millennials who leave the
• rganization .

“We work to have fun and make a difference.”

Credits

• Brack, J. (2012). Maximizing Millennials in the Workplace.
• Brack, J. (2014). Managing Millennials in the Workplace.
• Goux, D. (2012). Millennials in the Workplace. http://www.Bentley.edu/centers/center-for-

women-and-business/millennials-workplace Survey of 1000 millennials.

• How Companies Are Managing the Millennial Generation, March 5, 2015, Wharton

University.

• Human Resource Executive. May, 2015.
• Kowske, B., Rasch, R., & Wiley, J. (2010). Millennials’ (lack of) attitude problem: An empieical

examination of generational effects on work attitudes.

• Kuipers, T. (2012) “Generations in our Communities.” University of Wyoming Extension.
• Levenson, A. (2015). Making Sense of the Millennial Generation: What Organizations Need to

Know.

• Marston, C. (2007). Motivating the “What’s in it for me” workforce. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
• Platten, M. (2015). Leveraging Generations in the Workplace. Power Point presentation.
• Remson, D. (2015). From 18-80: Thriving in the Multi-Generational Workplace. Power Point

presentation.