Even when the economy was tanking it was still important for Millennials to have some aspect of choice in where they worked. Most Millennials weren’t interested in settling for a terrible job, even if it meant not getting a job at all. I happened to be really lucky because I got hired by one of Fortune’s 100 Best Companies To Work for (10 years running!) so I didn’t have to decide whether the company would be a good fit for me or not. For Millennials it is really important that they feel they “fit” with the company that wants to hire them. But where do Millennials want to work and what makes a company a great place to work?
Of course for every Millennial it’s different, but I think there are three things that make a company a great place to work for Millennials:
1. Opportunities for upward mobility and growth- This is by far the most important criteria that makes a company a great place for Millennials to work. All Millennials are looking for jobs that could be long-time careers. Of course, Millennials will switch jobs more often than previous generations, but we still want a job where we see a path of growth and upward mobility. We want to be further ahead, more quickly than previous generations (and we are willing to work hard for it) so we need to see those opportunities in our future.
2. Flexible hours and work/life balance- This is more important to some Millennials and less to important to others, but all Millennials want to have a work/life balance. Even if that balance often tips more toward the work side, it is still something that we all desire to have. If your company encourages work/life balance or offers flexible hours, Millennials are going to appreciate your commitment to their needs.
3. Great people- A company is not made out of people, but people DO make up a company. It is very important for Millennials to work with great people, and because Millennials do a lot of their work in groups it becomes even more important that they like the people they are working with. If your company doesn’t have a lot of great, smart people Millennials are not going to want to work there.
These are three of the most important things that attract Millennials to a company.
Here are a few reasons, other than those listed above, why the company I work for is a great place for Millennials to work:
- Focus on personal health (onsite gym and clinic)
- Open communication with employees
- Continuous employee development
- Positive leadership
- A respect for new ideas
And those are just a few…
What makes your company (or any company) a great place for Millennials to work?
