Working with Millennials

As more and more Gen-Xers and baby boomers give way for Millennials to enter the job fray, the workplace has not been business as usual. Unlike the former two, Millennials’ education, behavior, attitudes, and lifestyles have been shaped by parents, coaches, tutors, and society that told them they can do anything. Well, Millennials are here, and the work environment and culture are never going back.

If you haven’t had a chance, I am sure you are wondering: what’s it like to work with Millennials. While most people have generalized the way Millennials behave, especially in the place of work, some of them might be misconstrued and downright misguided. That’s why we’ve created a quick guide to working with Millennials.

1. Who are Millennials?

There’s a good chance that you’ve heard the word “millennials” being thrown around, especially in the workplace. It basically refers to anyone born between 1981 and 2000. Coincidentally, this group makes the vast majority of those entering the workforce around the globe.

2. Millennials Are Less Shy

It’s only natural that there are both introvert and extrovert Millennials. Even so, they are not known to be shy or afraid to speak their minds. You see, unlike their elders, these individuals were taught to not “sit down and take it.”

Ever since their childhood, Millennials were taught to voice their opinions. In fact, most of them were treated as equals by their parents, teachers, coaches, and even college profs. Turns out, they are bringing the same attitude to the workplace. In other words, Millennials don’t have much respect for hierarchies and will not take it sitting down.

3. Millennials have a Harder time Finding Work than their Elders

Whether their attitude, education or upbringing is to blame, one thing is for sure: Millennials are grinding harder to find a job. In fact, a recent study showed that 70 pc of millennial find it difficult to garner a stable job, far much higher than other generations.

4. Their job is “everything”

It’s not surprising that Millennials give their “all” to their careers. After all, this is the generation that has grown up being reminded that they can do whatever their mind on. Unlike their elders who were married with children by the time they joined the workforce, Millennials are throwing that in the backseat. In fact, their job influences just about every aspect of their lives — from how they think on their leisure time to how they introduce themselves.

5. Millennials aren’t motivated by money

Don’t get me wrong; Millennials love their jobs — as aforementioned, it’s everything to them. However, they don’t care as much about the size of the paycheck. Millennials care as much about other things like going on adventures, living a healthy lifestyle, making a difference in someone’s life, and so forth.

6. Millennials are into entrepreneurship

Most Millennials don’t see themselves working under a boss for a lifetime. According to a report authored by Deloitte in collaboration with Levit, nearly 70% of Millennials around the world aspire to be their own boss. That’s why it comes as no big surprise that most young professionals are now heading straight to the startup scene.