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Making your company attractive to young professionals is an important step in ensuring long-term growth and success. Today’s top talent is not interested in just punching the time card. They are looking for meaningful work, a flexible environment, and strong relationships.
What do young professionals want?
As of 2017, Millennials—those born between 1981 and 1996—make up the largest generation in the workforce. They are bringing with them new talents, capabilities, and work ethics. They are also bringing a number of expectations about the type of companies they want to work for, the offices they want to spend their time, and the style of working they want to execute. The percentage of millennials in the workforce is on the rise, quickly becoming the dominant demographic in many industries.
This is especially true in the office, where millennials now make up the majority of workers. Overall, millennials make up about 37% of the workforce today. We have written about designing a modern workplace before, but today, we will dig a bit deeper into the motivations behind these needs, so you better can understand this rising generation of talent.
Aim: Flexibility
Why: Flexibility takes many forms for young professionals. This is the first generation of workers who grew up in the age of the internet. They are technologically skilled, early adopters of new tech trends, and fully aware of the power and freedom that comes with 24/7 connectivity. The rise of the gig economy, with 43% of the U.S. workforce expected to go freelance by 2020, has shown that young professionals value flexibility even more than security. In order to compete, traditional companies must offer the same benefits.
In the office, that means this group does not want to be tethered to a single desk. They want the option for activity-based working so they can find a location in the office that is best suited for their current task. Whether that is brainstorming with a small group in a huddle room, taking a phone call in a private phone booth, finding some quiet time on a couch in a lounge, or taking part in a meeting in a larger conference room.
Slender laptops and mobile phones make it possible to work from anywhere, so they should be empowered to do just that. This includes spaces outside of the office as well, such as remote working from home or a favorite coffee shop at the hours that fit best into their lifestyles. This young workforce expects to be judged by their results, not forced into a traditional 9-5 work environment if it does not work for them.
While young professionals have come to expect these flexible privileges, they do not take them for granted. They are diligent and deliver, often going the extra mile, no matter the time, to ensure quality. This generation places an increased amount of importance on social and family time than previous generations. Schedules and needs will change throughout time, often by the day, so companies should adapt to the personal lives of their employees to ensure they feel valued.
Aim: Transparency
Why: Open and honest communication throughout the company is another important way to make young professionals feel valued, and it is a corporate standard they have come to expect. Millennials want creative freedom to communicate their ideas. They want to feel welcome to express these ideas by their superiors. And they expect honest, thoughtful feedback on their contributions.
When employees feel empowered to express their opinions, it drives participation and collaboration. It makes goal setting an inclusive exercise. No one gets out of bed each day excited to fill their role as another cog in the wheel. They want to feel that they are contributing to the overall strategy and success of the company. That strategy should be expressed regularly to the workforce by company leaders and an open-door policy should be encouraged. Goals, budgets, and the overall health of the company should never be considered taboo. Employees need to know what they are working with to understand how to optimize their own departmental or individual strategies.
Transparency also includes a clear path towards career advancement. Ambitious young professionals have their eyes set on career development, no matter their role in the company. Development can take the form of networking opportunities, training, and mentorship. These workers want to know where they stand when the measuring stick comes out, and have the ability to work with their superiors to formulate and execute a plan for improvement and advancement. Transparent dialogue is the key to fostering strong relationships.
Aim: Support
Why: Today’s young professionals want to feel like you have their backs. In the world of #MeToo and Equal Pay Day, women, in particular, want to know their value in a company. And everyone—men and women alike—works harder when they feel they are in a safe, respectful environment that values all employees. That means fostering company leadership who is not afraid to talk about the tough issues and taboos, and works to address problems such as the gender pay gap, sexual harassment, work-life balance, LGBTQ rights, and mental health. Doing what you can to ensure your workplace is open, fair, and balanced will engender loyalty from all employees.
Support also goes beyond the walls of the office. Millennials in the workforce want to feel that they are contributing to an important cause. They want to feel that they spend their days working for a company that cares about both their well-being as well as the community at large. That is because young professionals stake a piece of their own identity to the company that they represent.
This generation jumps at the chance to engage in community activism, service opportunities, and corporate stewardship programs. They want to know their employer makes decisions that are environmentally responsible and beneficial to the surrounding community. This provides great bonding opportunities for employees, while positively affecting the world around them.
Create an attractive workplace for young professionals
When designing your physical workspace to better accommodate the rising generation of workers, do not forget to consider their values, motivations, and beliefs that lie behind them. Young professionals expect a lot from their employers. In return, they give their loyalty, dedication, and diligence in working towards company innovation and success, as well as fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
By understanding and catering to the needs and expectations of young professionals, employers can create a workspace that aligns with their values and fosters a sense of belonging and purpose. This generation values meaningful work and wants to feel that their contributions are making a difference. They are dedicated to driving innovation and success within the company, and are willing to go the extra mile to achieve their goals.
Conclusion - What do young professionals actually want?
Attracting and retaining young professionals in your company requires understanding and catering to their specific needs and expectations.
The new generation values flexibility, transparency, and support in the workplace. They want the freedom to work from anywhere, open, and honest communication, and a company that supports their personal and professional development. By creating a workplace that aligns with their values, you can foster a loyal and dedicated workforce that will drive innovation and success.
So, take the time to design a workspace that meets their needs and engage with them on the issues that matter to them. By doing so, you will create an attractive environment that will not only attract top talent but also cultivate their loyalty and dedication.
