With a whole new generation of young job seekers out there, millennial job candidates (those who have graduated post 2000) have been a bit of a head-scratcher for many recruiters. They’re a different breed of worker as compared with all those who have come before. In order to recruit and hire this new blood, which is so sorely needed in businesses of every type today, you’ll need to better understand what attracts and motivates Millennials.
If you’re trying to attract upcoming talent and new grads to apply for positions within your organization, here are a few things you’re going to need to do.
Build Relationships with Millennial Candidates
Begin by working on building your employment brand. The most important thing you can do to attract millennial job candidates is develop a reputation as a good employer for Millennials. This means identifying the areas that they look for, such as casual and collaborative work environments, opportunities to learn new skills, and above-average perks.
Make the Application and Interview Process as Painless as Possible
Millennials are actively engaged in social media and extremely vocal about all aspects of their lives—including the job search process. You want to make it as simple as possible for them to apply for the positions you have available. These are a few of the things you can do that will make the application process much simpler for on-the-go Millennials:
1) Announce positions on popular job boards and make it simple for them to go straight to a website where they can immediate apply for the position via mobile devices, laptops, tablets, and PCs.
2) Create apps perspective candidates can download to follow the progress of their applications, get updates about openings, and learn more about your business.
3) Announce job openings via social media. Since this is where they spend much of their time, it’s the fastest way to get the word out about positions you have available that might appeal to them.
4) Work directly with a staffing agency that is good at attracting and preparing Millennials for work in your industry. A great option is TempStaff.
Before you rush out and hire a new class of Millennials hoping you’ll have the future of your business set in motion, be aware that the average Millennial only stays with a job for one to three years. This can throw a real wrench in your plan unless you take a few steps towards actively engaging the Millennials you bring on board such as these:
1) Involve them in the decision making process. They live their lives out loud. It makes sense that they expect their opinions to matter in the workplace too.
2) Clearly define boundaries and expectations. This includes everything from dress codes and Internet usage to mobile devices and security.
3) Make expectations clear. Millennials need to understand what’s expected of them so they know what they need to do in order to fulfill their roles. They’ll be happier with their jobs and you’ll be happier with the results when expectations are clear to all.
4) Offer recognition liberally. There’s really no such thing as too much recognition for Millennials. They crave it and it keeps them engaged.
5) Provide constant, constructive feedback. Constant criticism will certainly backfire. However, offering a steady stream of constructive advice and coaching are widely appreciated.
Millennials can make a world of difference for the future of your company and the current appeal your business offers to that coveted demographic. However, if you want to successfully recruit them, you must learn to speak their language. These tips will help. If you would like help attracting top young talent, contact the staffing experts at TempStaff.