Understanding millennial workforce

Millennials are the most complex generation in the workforce. With perspectives that appear to be contradictory and, average attention spans limited to 12 seconds, engaging the millennial workforce is no mean task.

But before coming up with a strategy to engage the millennial workforce and create a sense of belonging in the workplace, it is important to understand their contradictory characteristics.

Hardworking but feel entitled: Millennials hate boring work. They like their work to be challenging but not at the cost of their personal life or commitment. They work hard and crave for opportunities and progression.

Independent but can appear needy: A typical millennial expects mentoring and gives his or her best when recognized for the work. Yet, they will appear to behave an independent streak of thought and will hate being micromanaged. They love to find solutions to problems.

People-oriented but gadget-friendly: Millennials will appear to be extremely tech-savvy and heavy social media users at the same time. They will use technology to reduce the workload to make life easy but will crave interaction with people.

Loyal but seek opportunities: Millennials are loyal employees and will not move from their work unless they fail to receive what they seek. If career progression is slow, they are likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Motivated by ethics and rewards: Social values motivate millennials. But so, does their desire to be fairly compensated for their efforts. They will work at a place that helps meet their ethical values but at the same time achieve their lifestyle goals.

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