6 Staffing Trends Show Millennials are Poised for Professional Success
As Millennials move up the corporate ladder in greater numbers than ever before, here are six staffing trends that could impact your company next year.
Passing the Torch – 6 Staffing Trends Shows How Millennials are Changing the Workforce and the Workplace
As the end of the year approaches, many companies are already working on plans to make next year the best yet, and staffing will be a key focus. Whether you’re going to be hiring in the New Year to support planned growth, to compensate for high employee turnover or to replace older workers opting for retirement and transitioning their jobs to millennials, you should take note of important 2017 staffing trends that can help with strategic planning for your company’s workforce.
Passing the Torch
Well, kind of anyway. The oldest baby boomers are now in their 70’s. Millions of Baby Boomers and even many Gen Xers who are business owners, CEO’s, division and department chiefs, and other management roles in companies across America will be handing over the reins of leadership to Gen Xers and Millennials.
In many companies, this results in positions opening up in middle and lower management as younger workers move up in the ranks. Also, as companies strive to keep up with technology and transform their molds into trendy looks, hiring the right Millennials for these jobs will be important to accomplish that mission.
New Workforce, New Look
If you want to attract and retain the top talent from among younger workers for your company, it’s important to keep up with the times. This doesn’t just mean competitive pay, benefits, and technology.
When planning to fill staffing positions in 2017, you need to have a plan to attract the modern workforce. For example, AT&T has a plan for their workforce realignment over the coming years called Workforce 20/20. As the strategy has already started to unfold, office spaces are being turned upside down to create modern, open work environments and play to the fact that working remotely is not only a possibility, but a desired reality.
Connecting in the Age of Wearable Tech
Remember years ago when the idea of communication with someone via video conference was only something you would only see in the movies? That’s just everyday life now. When planning and staffing for your company, don’t forget to include these in your plans.
2017 staffing trends don’t just impact the makeup of the workforce, they also impact how workers will get their jobs done. This multi-billion-dollar wearable tech industry is not only used for socializing; Millennials also prefer to integrate them into their every day on the job. Wearables are a growing trend that’s here to stay and can keep everyone connected to keep up with business demand.
In practical terms, while the idea of video-chatting instead of phone-calling or emailing colleagues, prospects, or customers might seem intimidating, remember that when you can both see and hear someone, it’s better. It reduces chances of misunderstanding and allows you to see important visual cues, body language, and other signals you would miss on non-video channels.
Anything You Can Do, Robots Can Do Better
Practically speaking, automation can help your company work smarter and faster, so it’s a trend all companies should think about when it comes to staffing. With nearly half of the jobs in the US expected to be automated at the end of the next 20 years, it should be at the front of your mind.
What does this have to do with millennials specifically? Millennials are aware and prepared for this coming trend. They understand that as existing jobs are automated, new jobs will be created. Creating these new jobs and hiring the right candidates, who are brave and willing to take chances on as-yet-undefined new jobs for this future is paramount.
Millennials Shop for Jobs Like They Shop for Consumer Goods
As a recruiter or hiring manager, one thing you can count on today when you’re researching a potential candidate is that he or she has probably already researched your company just as much if not more. Just like your company would vet a potential vendor, candidates will be studying your company through the news, websites, and especially social media. Three out of four millennials have multiple social media accounts, so you’re company’s brand presence on social networks will be scrutinized closely by potential future employees.
Time to Go Paperless
Ten years ago, applying for your first job still required printing out applications and filling them out with a pen. It was time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, especially for those candidates who struggled with writing by hand. Today, most entry level jobs start with digital job applications.
For a Millennial, the resume is no longer just a one or two-page paper. It’s a mix of LinkedIn profile, social media pages, and online associations and groups, as well as work experience and education. As a staffing recruiter or hiring manager, you need to make the application process digital (if you haven’t already) and endeavor to make the application process short and sweet in order to attract the talent your company deserves.
The workplace is evolving; the workforce must evolve too. Luckily, Millennials aren’t just prepared to deal with these changes, they’re wired for it. Take advantage of generational strengths as you decide which of these 2017 staffing trends will impact your agency or organization next year.
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