COPYRIGHT ©1999-2014 GENESIS10. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

ISBN: 9781483538211

The Future is Bright with Millennials

The millennial generation is poised to take corporate America by storm. It is simply a matter of numbers: this age group represents the largest generation ever, exceeding even the baby boomer population by 10 million people. The generation in between, Generation X, simply lacks the numbers to fill all of the job vacancies that are being created as baby boomers retire and the economy sees an uptick in business growth. As a result, the millennial generation will comprise nearly half of the U.S. workforce—and three quarters of employees globally—by approximately 2022ⁱ,

These facts, coupled with today’s job forecasts, make millennial workers a very popular news topic today, receiving coverage almost daily in all mediums and markets. But how accurate is the information? It’s a mixed bag. Much of it is opinion. Almost all of it resonates with a tone of frustration and exasperation. From where we stand, little of the millennial workforce story portrayed in mainstream media reflects actual employer experience with these workers in real-world employment settings.

This book offers that “insider’s view” into the generation that changes everything: millennials. At Genesis10, we’re in the business of selecting, hiring, training, and mentoring millennial college graduates for roles in business, management, and information technology (IT). On behalf of a diverse base of clients, Genesis10 is developing millennial college graduates into productive and loyal employees who are transforming the workplace. And we are optimistic about what we see.

Today’s young adults represent the most highly educated talent pool to enter the workforce. The rigors of secondary and post-secondary education now far surpass that of previous American generations. College curriculums today incorporate far more sophisticated concepts and often integrate real-world experience in the form of internships and co-ops. As a result, we are seeing entry-level professional job candidates who excel at critical thinking and problem solving. They may be a bit rough around the edges, at first, but all it takes is a little pre-employment polishing to get them ready to plunge into the workforce.

In the following pages, we share insights we’ve gained through our work connecting corporate clients and millennial workers since 2008. Our insights come from real-world, hands-on employment situations, not theoretical research. We’ll share what really happens when millennials go to work.

It is time to look at your business’s future with millennial workers.

Content Sections

  I.   Who Are The Millennials and What Do They Think About Work?

 II.   Workplace Characteristics: What Do Millennial Workers Really Want?

III.   The Impact of Millennials on Organizational Culture

IV.   Retaining Your Millennial Workforce

About the Authors

Rose Ernst brings more than 20 years of consulting services experience to her role as national director of the G10 Associates program at Genesis10, focusing on the selection, training, and placement of millennial workers. Rose is an advocate and advisor to companies seeking next-generation workforce planning, implementation, and ongoing support.

Tara Wyborny is recruiting lead for the G10 Associates program at Genesis10. Tara coaches millennial job candidates through career interview and hiring processes. Following placement, she remains in touch through the delivery directors who act as career mentors—offering support and guidance to G10 Associates during their first critical months on the job as business and information technology (IT) professionals.

Who Are The Millennials and What Do They Think About Work?

Meet your new coworkers: The millennial generation. Born between 1980 and the early 2000s, the millennials are the children of the baby boomers and early Generation Xers (“Gen Xers”). And they have some unique characteristics and views about work.

Each generation has held its own attitudes toward work, brought about by the circumstances of their youth. But the millennial workforce is like none other

Take a look at some basic facts about the millennial workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureauⁱⁱ…