This webinar will be hosted by McKonly & Asbury Human Resources Director, Suzanne Sentman, and Human Resources Coordinator, Holly Kressler.
Millennials, the cohort of Americans born between 1980 and the mid-2000s, now surpass Baby Boomers as the largest living U.S. generation. In 2013, they represented one-third of the total U.S population and by 2020, they are expected to make up half of the workforce. How are employers responding to this employee population shift?
This webinar will explore the defining characteristics of the Millennial generation and how companies can utilize this information to successfully attract, recruit, and retain these employees. As employers create a culture that supports this generation’s need and desire for career growth and advancement, best practices will be examined in areas such as recruiting, onboarding, training, and performance management.
6. Introductions
Suzanne Sentman, SPHR
• McKonly & Asbury
• Human Resources Director
• ssentman@macpas.com
Holly Kressler
• McKonly & Asbury
• Human Resources Coordinator
• hkressler@macpas.com
7. Generation Definitions
The Millennial Generation
• Born 1981 to 1997
• Age 18-34 in 2015
• Share of Adult Population: 30%
Generation X
• Born 1965 to 1980
• Age 35 - 50 in 2015
• Share of adult population: 27%
The Baby Boom Generation
• Born 1946 - 1964
• Age 51 – 69 in 2015
• Share of adult population: 30%
The Silent Generation
• Born 1928 - 1945
• Age 70 - 87 in 2015
• Share of adult population: 11%
The Greatest Generation
• Born before 1928
• Age 88 - 100 in 2015
• Share of adult population: 2%
Pew Research Center
11. Confident
• On track to become most educated
generation
• In 2008 a record share of 18-24 year olds
(39.6%) were enrolled in college.
• Despite the recent recession, about 9 in
10 say they will eventually meet long-
term financial goals.
• More optimistic than Gen Xers and Baby
boomers with respect to financial future
and earning power
Pew Research Center
12. Connected
• As mentioned earlier, technology is their most defining characteristic
• “Always connected” generation & “Fused social lives into technology”
• 8 in 10 say they sleep with the cell phone by the bed
• 2/3 admit to texting while driving
• 75% have a profile on a social networking site; and of these 29% check their favorite
site several times a day
• 1 in 5 have posted a video of themselves online
• Information and knowledge readily accessible online
• Able to adapt well to new technology and will multi-task using various
technology
Pew Research Center
13. Open to Change
• More ethnically and racially diverse than older adults
• 43% non-white
• 25% first language not English
• 20% have at least one immigrant parent
• More accepting of new patterns of social behavior (same sex
marriage, single parenting)
• Impact of recession
• last ones hired / first ones fired
• taking entry level positions
• Relocation is more attractive since 22% own home vs. 71% of those
30 and older
Pew Research Center / U.S. Census Bureau
14. Traits of Millennials in the Workplace
• Diverse
• Highly educated
• Tech-savy
• Crave collaboration
• Want feedback
• Looking for growth
Average tenure by generation:
• Millennials- 2 years
• Gen X- 5 years
• Baby Boomers- 7 years
• Silent Generation- 10 years
Association Subculture
15. Traits of Millennials in the Workplace
• Expect coaching, feedback / measurement from an employer
• Expect career progression / professional development
• Expect technology to optimize work – they are prepared to lead the
charge!
• Highly collaborative
• They prefer 24/7 availability
• Multi-taskers
16. What 3 Things do Millennials Want in a
Career?
• Flexible schedules! (no 9-5 jobs)
• Invest time acquiring the skills and knowledge
• Sense of purpose (self and employer)
Fortune.com
17. Creating the Right Culture:
Communication with Employees
• Constant, clear communications
• Don’t dumb down messaging
• The power of the written word
• Short concise communications
• Use employee feedback to include making top-level leaders
accessible
• Embrace the direct communication style
18. Creating the Right Culture:
Leveraging Technology
• “On-demand” information that Millennials expect
• 35% of Millennials agree that employer doesn’t leverage technology
in workplace very well!
• Automate tasks
• Increase efficiency
• Provide for knowledge sharing
• Encourage collaboration
• Social collaboration for ideas – Yammer
• Project management – Basecamp
UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School
19. Creating the Right Culture:
Community Involvement
• Aim for quarterly events where
everyone participates in a cause.
• Allow employees time away from
work to volunteer.
• Showcase how the company
gives back to the community on
your website.
• Do you have a product or service
that can be shared with the
community?
20. Creating the Right Culture:
Work Life Balance
Policies and tools that make this happen…
• Telecommuting
• Flexible scheduling
• Technology to support this…
• Cloud based content such as Google Drive and Microsoft’s One Drive
• VPN
• Video calling through Skype and Google Hangouts
• Instant Messaging
21. Creating the Right Culture:
Work Life Balance
Other policies to support work life balance…
• PTO Time – allows flexible use of paid time off
• Social Media policies – set clear expectations!
• BYOD
• Access to personal social media sites during workday
22. Creating the Right Culture:
Work Environment
• Dress Code – creates a comfortable work environment
• Don’t forget to add some fun…
24. Ask Yourself
• How does your company recruit millennials?
• Would you rather talk to a candidate on the phone or text them?
25. Recruiting and Hiring
• “Millennials are going to be
changing jobs every three
years.”
• How do recruiters deal with
hiring and then rehiring after
three years?
28. Being Mobile Friendly
• On average nearly 60% of candidates used a
mobile device to search for a job
• 52% used them to apply for a position
• Around 70% hear about companies through friends
and job boards
• Best practices…
• Make sure your job application is mobile friendly.
• Develop an online application process that is simple to
access and easy to navigate.
• Make sure job descriptions are appealing to millennials
and keep them short and simple.
Spark Hire
29. Texting
• 92% of U.S. smartphone owners send an average of 111 text
messages per week.
• 50% of daily social media users would rather text than talk on the
phone.
“It is apparent that mobile communication is the best way to reach a
millennial.” - Recruiter
30. Campus Recruiting
• All companies should connect with
students in their college career.
• Who should companies talk with?
• What programs can companies
offer?
• What events or functions can
companies attend?
33. Onboarding: Best Practices
• Short bursts of information best – but make sure information is
accessible so they can go back and review later
• Be prepared for time allotment – be realistic. Take breaks
• Use a comfortable location as much as possible
• Be creative! Build in fun to program as a way to get to know the
culture
34. Onboarding: Best Practices
Don’t underestimate the value of a formalized program!
Be sure to include:
• Low level policies and legal rules - for example social media do’s and don’ts
• Job expectations
• Ways to connect with other employees & learn culture
• Group lunches, “meet and greet” get-togethers
• Cross training, shadowing others
• Community events
• Office scavenger hunts
• Training – learning from peers, e-learning
35. Training: Best Practices
• Make it relevant! Explain how it applies to job
• Technical know-how is important but don’t forget soft-skills topics!
• Keep it tech-savvy
• Coach and praise along way
• Use collaboration to your advantage…
• Foster an appreciation of diversity within your organization
36. Performance Management:
Providing Feedback
• Be involved as a supervisor or manager!
• Provide clear and candid feedback – they value openness and transparency.
• Set clear expectations
• 61% of millennials say they need specific direction from their boss to do their
best work.
• Explain the value of what they are doing
• Impact to team and company…think big picture
TINYpulse
37. Feedback
• Make your feedback timely
• 80% of millennials want feedback in real time.
• Ask for input…
• Are their responsibilities clear?
• Do they have the resources they need?
• Are their tasks manageable?
Talent Cove
38. Professional Development
• Engage in career path discussions early on - annual review cycles
won’t cut it…
• Provide career-building opportunities within their role but also think
of ways to get broader work experience.
Positives = Smart, confident, ambitious, want promotions
Negatives = New to workplace and lack experience
• Solution….MENTORING
39. Mentoring
• Allows for employee to take control of his or her own career
development
• Context of relationship allows to align with organizational goals
• Multiple learning channels offer various perspectives
• Teams, departments, divisions, locations….
• Non-traditional approaches:
• Team
• Reverse
40. Mentoring
Employer Benefits
• Multiple generations working together learn from one another
• Transfer of specific company knowledge
• Preparing Millennial employees for leadership roles
41.
42. Millennials…
• Want to make the world a better place
• Want to express themselves
• Are the most diverse generation ever to exist
• Value flexibility
• Want feedback
By showing Millennials that your company is one where they can learn, grow,
find flexibility and high quality of life, you can bring in young talent that will
stay with your company and add value.
• All generations can benefit from these best practices!
43. Questions?
Suzanne Sentman, SPHR
• McKonly & Asbury
• Human Resources Director
• ssentman@macpas.com
Holly Kressler
• McKonly & Asbury
• Human Resources Coordinator
• hkressler@macpas.com
44.
45.
46. Questions?
Suzanne Sentman, SPHR
• McKonly & Asbury
• Human Resources Director
• ssentman@macpas.com
Holly Kressler
• McKonly & Asbury
• Human Resources Coordinator
• hkressler@macpas.com