This is the year that Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers, claiming the title of the U.S.’s largest living generation. Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are persons between the ages of 18 and 34 in 2015. Since Millennials comprise the majority of the workforce, this shift in demographics is already affecting hiring practices as companies are challenged to recruit and retain this talent.
Appealing to the Next Generation of Employees
Human resource professionals are taking note of the differences Millennials bring to the workforce. The generation was born into technology and is well educated, with a preference for working in teams and a high interest in work-life balance.
Millennials have high expectations for themselves and prospective employers. According to a survey by Spherion Staffing, “47% of Millennials say a prospective employer’s online reputation matters as much as the job it offers.” It’s important for HR professionals to keep up, and technology is a great way to start.
2 Ways to Use Technology to Appeal to Millennials
1. Social Media. For Millennials who want to see a company successfully managing its brand online, social media is key. Companies need to be active on various social media channels, and not just for the sale. Generation Y is looking for employers who use social media for social good, to praise employees, and to provide relevant information. Social media sites that have chat applications (Twitter, WeChat, SnapChat, WhatsApp) are Millennials’ channels of choice.
Additionally, blocking social media sites at the office will send a red flag to Millennials. A Microsoft survey of 9,000 workers across 32 countries showed that 31% of workers would be willing to spend their own money on a new social tool if it made them more productive at work—highlighting the importance of on-the-job technology to today’s workforce.
2. App-Centric Job Searches Coupled with Dynamic Recruiting. Optimizing for mobile should be a priority for anyone looking to engage with Millennials. Being able to conduct a job search while on the go is essential, yet only 20% of Fortune 500 companies have career sites optimized for mobile. And whether the company is set up for mobile or not, Millennials are not looking to be bogged down by one particular system when it comes time to fill out a job application.
Fluid, dynamic recruitment forms that can be accessed from any device use real-time, one-on-one interaction based on a series of formulated questions that can change, depending on how the applicant answers. As much as recruiters want applicants to do their due-diligence when it comes to company research, Millennials are looking for the same. They expect job positions and duties to match descriptions and be compatible with their needs and skill sets. Dynamic recruitment technology is one way to dig deeper into candidate qualifications and provide Gen Y with the personalization they crave.
A Degree to Support the Mission
It has been reported that 70% of Millennials leave their first job within 2 years. Understanding this generation’s needs and wants is critical to retention of this important employee segment.
A Master of Science in Human Resource Management provides the tools and knowledge needed to stay on top of the HR technology trends that are beneficial to communicating, recruiting, and retaining the next generation of employees. Participating in real-world scenarios that put you in the driver’s seat of the decision-making process is just one of the ways a master’s can provide you with the skills needed to manage the new workforce.
