Understanding Generation Y

In the first decade of the 21st century, Generation Y entered the workforce in large numbers as they graduated from college and began to look for jobs. It became crucial for companies to understand these new employees so they could integrate them with the existing team of Baby Boomers and Generation X. Generation Y, also called Millennials, come with many benefits that can ensure a company stay relevant in the marketplace. Understanding them and how they work will help you create an environment that attracts qualified Generation Y employees to your company. Here are some tips to understanding what makes Millennials tick.

  • They are technological experts. Millennials were raised on a steady diet of computers. From the time they entered kindergarten, they were taught how to use PCs and other devices. They have not lived in a world without cell phones, and smart phones have been around most of their lives as well. This puts them in the perfect position to take on any sort of technological challenge in the work place.
  • They are job hoppers. It is not uncommon for a member of Generation Y to go from job to job to find something just a little different each place. To retain a Millennial, it is the responsibility of the employer to keep them engaged in the company culture.
  • They work well in teams. There is something to be said about a generation raised with team sports activities and the “everyone’s a winner” mentality. It makes them great at collaboration. It is rare to find a Millennial who is uncomfortable in working as part of a team. That being said, Generation Y does not measure up in the people skills department in general. So while they might be comfortable collaborating, they are used to doing this virtually or competitively. Understanding both sides of this issue can help you better manage them to work in teams.
  • They can actually multi-task. It is said that there is no such thing as multi-tasking. Scientists say that the human brain is only capable of one task at a time and when we push ourselves to multi-task what we are really doing is making each individual task suffer. This is not necessarily true of Generation Y. Studies have shown that because of the constant stimulation provided by personal technology, Millennials are capable of doing more than one task at a time.
  • They need more structure. Generation Y is not a group that works well without strong leadership. The same phenomenon that made them all winners also means that they are used to helicopter parenting and constant instruction and supervision. To manage them effectively you need to take this into consideration.

Considering adding a new member to your team? Contact CornerStone Staffing to tap into their network of qualified employees.

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