DISCUSSION
Should retailers consider new recruiting strategies for Millennials?
Written by RetailWire Staff
Just how different Millennials are from earlier generations of U.S. workers is a matter of ongoing debate. But it's a question that those in recruiting and hiring are hoping to answer, at least in part, as the generation continues to move into the workplace.
An article in Personnel Today states that Millennials aren't really all that different from other earlier groups in the workforce, but that they have a different way of asking for things. The article posits that opening up a dialogue with them — trying to understand them as individuals and working to understand their career needs and aspirations — is the path to courting Millennials. A sense of belonging to a team and fitting in with a company's culture are also big motivators, according to the article.
The opportunities to receive on-the-job training are key to Millennials seeking work, according to a CIO article.
But a willingness to invest these sorts of resources in younger employees may run counter to current hiring trends. An article from Troy Media indicates that recruiters hold a dim view of Millennials.
The article cites a survey by KRC Research for Bentley University that says that 74 percent of the more than 3,000 polled believe Millennials lack the work ethic of previous generations. But with Millennials, according to Personnel Today, making up one-third of the work force now and slated to be the majority by 2025, recruiter attitudes will have to change.
One strategist indicated that focusing on retention might not be the best route to recruiting top Millennial talent.
Cliff Oxford, founder of The Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs, indicated in a Forbes.com article that a "Know, Grow and Exit" strategy is the way to recruit the best Millennials out there. He has found it more effective to help them cultivate their talents within the company in order to prepare them for getting a better role — even if it means leaving the company — rather than focusing on keeping them longer-term.