How millennials changed the culture of work
Today's 20-somethings, better known as millennials, have completely revamped the corporate work culture. They have ushered in a transformational approach to how applicants go about the job-hunting process and how hiring managers look for and hire new recruits. The traditional interview process where the interviewer has all the power is now a thing of the past. Sally Chandler, Director of Operations at FMOutsource says, “Gone are the days where the interview process is a one-way street with the interviewee sitting under the Sword of Damocles awaiting the thumbs up or down. It’s as much a sales process for the employer as it is for the applicant.” (As stated by Everyday Power)
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Here are a few examples of how millennials have successfully altered the culture of work:
Employees want to know how accepting a particular job offer will benefit them
More and more millennials are beginning to ask ‘What's in it for me?’ during job interviews. This is because, apart from a good salary, millennials also want recognition, progression, and flexible work schedules. If hiring managers want to bring the best talent on board, they should have a convincing answer ready to the above mentioned question.
Applicants assess companies as much as companies assess them
The reputation of a company was never as important to employees as it is in today's day and age. Today, businesses go as far as to ensure that not only the people working for them, but their families too are connected to and invested in their business. Creative job descriptions can go a long way in attracting millennials to apply for a job to a certain company and therefore much thought should be put into them.
Millennials detest the idea of working in cubicles
Before accepting a job offer, many millennials survey the office space as they aren't keen on the idea of working in cubicles. They rather prefer open-office layouts where they can work side-by-side with their colleagues, without a wall dividing them. Open-office plans encourage a sense of community and give millennials a reason to stay at work even after office-hours to complete their projects.
Millennials want to keep learning
Just because they have a full-time job, millennials don't want to halt the process of learning new things. They would give preference to a company that held weekly training sessions for them over a company that offered them a higher salary but no opportunity for professional development. If a company wants to attract the best talent, they need to offer education programs along with the usual perks.
Millennials want a flexible work culture
Millennials don't appreciate nine-to-five working hours. They would love it if companies allowed them to work from home or even out of a coffee shop. Millennials are seamless in telecommuting and digital communication and therefore they value their space and freedom above all else.
Millennials' fresh approach towards work has not only led to better productivity, but also encouraged greater loyalty towards employers. Hiring managers should therefore forget the old model of one-way interviews and strive to provide millennials with their basic needs and requirements.