Jobhop Jobhop's blog : Tomorrows Work Place Why It’s Changing
By 2020 Millennials (Gen Y) will account for 50% of the global workforce, attracting their talent to your organisation is imperative for your survival.
We know tomorrows work place is going to be very different
How are you going to compete with the world? We’re not just talking about the U.K, in fact talking about the whole world because this generation see the world as a much smaller place, they will have no hesitation in leaving the U.K. Millennialls actually think it’s their right to go and work abroad to experience different cultures.
China, Russia and India want our talent and considering we already have a shortage of it, how will we make sure we do not lose anymore from the U.K?
I see that two things must happen
- Know your Employment Brand
- Know how to communicate with Millennials
Your Employment Brand has never been so important. If you don’t know what it is then you need to find out quick and how do you do that? Ask your employees, they own your employment brand.
I say more about employment branding here but just ask yourself about your own company “why would I want to work here?”
Look at it’s culture,it’s story, the ethics, what training you provide, the environment, the support, the opportunities.
Having a good employment brand will attract talent even before they’re on the job market. Children as young as 12 already say that they want to work for Google or Apple or are joining the XBox Live talent community
If you’re thinking that these are attractive because they’re technology companies then you’re right, millennials love technology. If you think you can’t compete because of that you’re wrong because others have, you just need to know their language and be able to communicate.
So what do you do with a Millennial that is obsessed with technology, you offer them more technology! This is a shock to some organisations because I hear horror stories of technology being limited, social media being banned. Millennials have grown up with the ipad, laptops, smart phones, social media xbox, instant information, this is what makes this generation unique, if you take it away from them they wont be working for you for too long.
If you’re worried that an employee isn’t going to be productive then you have an employee issue it’s not because of technology. Millennials shiny stuff is their technology the more you make it available to them then them more attractive the proposition is to them.
Working environments need to change to adapt to a collaborative style of working, they are digital creatives and love to brainstorm. Millennials will work hard but will feel stifled in a boring rigid office, you want them engaged so you need to offer a stimulating atmosphere.
Millennials are committed to personal growth and learning so you have to give them the ability to learn. They will learn quickly and they will expect to grow quickly, they will be looking to climb the career ladder in months not years so you have to be prepared for that.
If you don’t invest in them they will have no hesitation in going to work with your competitor or even set up themselves and do it their way, as they’re very entrepreneurial. They’re high achievers and are natural leaders so you must plan for that, even if it’s a simple earn your stripes system, Millennials have to see that they are climbing the career ladder.
If you expect your employees to clock in and out then you wont be attracting any Millennials.They will produce more work in shorter hours and they will question why do they have to start at 9am when they’re more productive from 10am. They want respect and trust, if they can get the work done whilst at home then they will ask “why do you want me to travel all the way in?” which they won’t ask over the telephone but with a tweet!
Whatever you promise them then make sure it’s honoured, to a millennial a promise means so much, they trust you not to break it, if you do then there’s always social media!
Millennials really value mentors and that is the best approach is to mentor them, rather telling them what to do. You can learn a lot from them and in return they want to learn about leadership, industry, leadership, self management.
Every talented Millennial is a passive candidate unless you can give them reasons to want to stay.
JOIN Jobhop and spread the word.
Julie Bishop Jobhop.co.uk
In:
- Digital