Are millennials asking too much from their employers?
Lindsey Graff of The Huffington Post recently wrote that millennials are confusing business and company owners, causing employers to feel unsure of what millennials want from their jobs. Some millennials want work-life balance, while others want a place that allows creativity to flourish and chances to make an impact.
This can be problematic for some companies, since millennials are the largest generation in the U.S. labor force, making up 53.5 percent of it, according to the Pew Research Center.
Graff suggests employers and employees have open communication, so both sides can come to a compromise on what they want in the workplace.
With that in mind, I urge small business owners to ask their employees (especially millennials) what kind of structure and expectations they need to be successful, Graff wrote. Though every worker and every company is different, open communication on these topics will result in happier employees and more meaningful business growth.
To help those business owners better understand what millennials want from their work, here are six types of jobs millennials dont particularly care for.
A dead-end job
A new study says that about two-thirds of todays young people are afraid that their current job will lead to a dead end, according to The Standard.
The survey, which interviewed 2,000 people ages 15 to 22, found that youngsters are also worried that they wont find a job that fits their creative desires. In fact, youngsters are more likely to put off some jobs because it doesnt fit with their passion.
There are some fantastic opportunities for both women and men in these sectors, so Im concerned to hear that so many young women are put off by careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, Claire Miles of British Gas told The Standard.
The 9-to-5 job
My colleague Mandy Morgan wrote in late July that millennials often avoid standard 9-to-5 jobs because they much more prefer an occupation that allows them to serve a greater purpose through work.
In fact, 72 percent of current millennial students prefer a job with a greater purpose, Forbes reported. And 71 percent of millennials even want their co-workers to be their second family, showing that they want their job to be more than just a place that pays them, Forbes reported. Rather, they want a meaningful experience from their work.
A job with too much work, not enough life
The Washington Posts Brigid Schulte reported in May that millennials want work-life balance from their jobs, especially as they struggle to balance their jobs and their families something that older generations have had no problem doing.
In fact, millennials said they were willing to take a pay cut or move somewhere else if it meant that their job would offer them more opportunities for work-life balance, The Post reported.
Unfortunately, its not something millennials are getting, The Post reported.
Wanting flexibility or work-life balance is the No. 1 thing we hear all the time from candidates. Its the No. 1 reason why people are looking for a new job, by far, Heidi Parsont, who runs TorchLight, a recruiting firm, told The Post. Were definitely seeing more candidates asking for it. But companies still see it as making an exception. Its still not the norm.
Corporate jobs that arent fun
Millennials dont want to to get dressed in the corporate suit and tie anytime soon. A new survey from consulting firm Accenture found that just 15 percent of 2015 graduates want to work for a large corporation, CNN Money reported. Most youngsters prefer to work for medium-sized businesses that promote a fun work environment and atmosphere.
A full 60 percent of 2015 grads and 69 percent of 2013 and 2014 grads, who were also surveyed said they'd rather work for a company that has a positive social atmosphere even if it means lower pay, CNN Money reported. Of course, they may think differently after a few years of working for the (low-paying) Man and after Mom and Dad stop subsidizing them.
Any job with an employer
Thats right. Millennials are more likely to work by or for themselves. Inc. magazine reported in 2014 that 70 percent of millennials feel theyll work independently at some point in their careers. Similarly, Fast Companys Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic reported that millennials are the most likely generation to be self-employed.
This is for several reasons, including some that we covered above. Chamorro-Premuzic also believes that millenials underestimate the challenges of starting their own company, which makes them more willing to launch out on their own.
But the biggest reason many young adults want to work for themselves may have to do with the corporate and traditional jobs that many millennials have had in the past, according to Chamorro-Premuzic.
The No. 1 reason for this is that they have been traumatized by previous experiences with bosses, he wrote. We call them necessity entrepreneurs but only because they have the necessity to avoid incompetent bosses. One cannot blame millennials for trying to do the same."
A job that pays
Money isnt a large concern for millennials, who listed a high-paying job as the least important characteristic for their job in a Pew Research Center study. In fact, only 19 percent of millennial adults value a high-paying job.
Rather, millennials want jobs they enjoy, offer security and give them time off for child care and family needs, according to Pew.
Lindsey Graff of The Huffington Post recently wrote that millennials are confusing business and company owners, causing employers to feel unsure of what millennials want from their jobs. Some millennials want work-life balance, while others want a place that allows creativity to flourish and chances to make an impact.
This can be problematic for some companies, since millennials are the largest generation in the U.S. labor force, making up 53.5 percent of it, according to the Pew Research Center.
Graff suggests employers and employees have open communication, so both sides can come to a compromise on what they want in the workplace.
With that in mind, I urge small business owners to ask their employees (especially millennials) what kind of structure and expectations they need to be successful, Graff wrote. Though every worker and every company is different, open communication on these topics will result in happier employees and more meaningful business growth.
To help those business owners better understand what millennials want from their work, here are six types of jobs millennials dont particularly care for.
A dead-end job
A new study says that about two-thirds of todays young people are afraid that their current job will lead to a dead end, according to The Standard.
The survey, which interviewed 2,000 people ages 15 to 22, found that youngsters are also worried that they wont find a job that fits their creative desires. In fact, youngsters are more likely to put off some jobs because it doesnt fit with their passion.
There are some fantastic opportunities for both women and men in these sectors, so Im concerned to hear that so many young women are put off by careers in science, technology, engineering and maths, Claire Miles of British Gas told The Standard.
The 9-to-5 job
My colleague Mandy Morgan wrote in late July that millennials often avoid standard 9-to-5 jobs because they much more prefer an occupation that allows them to serve a greater purpose through work.
In fact, 72 percent of current millennial students prefer a job with a greater purpose, Forbes reported. And 71 percent of millennials even want their co-workers to be their second family, showing that they want their job to be more than just a place that pays them, Forbes reported. Rather, they want a meaningful experience from their work.
A job with too much work, not enough life
The Washington Posts Brigid Schulte reported in May that millennials want work-life balance from their jobs, especially as they struggle to balance their jobs and their families something that older generations have had no problem doing.
In fact, millennials said they were willing to take a pay cut or move somewhere else if it meant that their job would offer them more opportunities for work-life balance, The Post reported.
Unfortunately, its not something millennials are getting, The Post reported.
Wanting flexibility or work-life balance is the No. 1 thing we hear all the time from candidates. Its the No. 1 reason why people are looking for a new job, by far, Heidi Parsont, who runs TorchLight, a recruiting firm, told The Post. Were definitely seeing more candidates asking for it. But companies still see it as making an exception. Its still not the norm.
Corporate jobs that arent fun
Millennials dont want to to get dressed in the corporate suit and tie anytime soon. A new survey from consulting firm Accenture found that just 15 percent of 2015 graduates want to work for a large corporation, CNN Money reported. Most youngsters prefer to work for medium-sized businesses that promote a fun work environment and atmosphere.
A full 60 percent of 2015 grads and 69 percent of 2013 and 2014 grads, who were also surveyed said they'd rather work for a company that has a positive social atmosphere even if it means lower pay, CNN Money reported. Of course, they may think differently after a few years of working for the (low-paying) Man and after Mom and Dad stop subsidizing them.
Any job with an employer
Thats right. Millennials are more likely to work by or for themselves. Inc. magazine reported in 2014 that 70 percent of millennials feel theyll work independently at some point in their careers. Similarly, Fast Companys Dr. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic reported that millennials are the most likely generation to be self-employed.
This is for several reasons, including some that we covered above. Chamorro-Premuzic also believes that millenials underestimate the challenges of starting their own company, which makes them more willing to launch out on their own.
But the biggest reason many young adults want to work for themselves may have to do with the corporate and traditional jobs that many millennials have had in the past, according to Chamorro-Premuzic.
The No. 1 reason for this is that they have been traumatized by previous experiences with bosses, he wrote. We call them necessity entrepreneurs but only because they have the necessity to avoid incompetent bosses. One cannot blame millennials for trying to do the same."
A job that pays
Money isnt a large concern for millennials, who listed a high-paying job as the least important characteristic for their job in a Pew Research Center study. In fact, only 19 percent of millennial adults value a high-paying job.
Rather, millennials want jobs they enjoy, offer security and give them time off for child care and family needs, according to Pew.
