Much of today’s workforce consists of Millennials, and the amount is continuing to rise. It’s crucial for companies, from both long-established corporations to startups, to adjust to this generation and attitudes to attract and retain talent.

In recent research from Gallup, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and Netflix were some of the most widely admired companies among respondents aged 18 to 34 on a global scale.

These are the employers that millennials want to work for. Why? Because they give young professionals what they want most: collaboration, flexibility and a sense of purpose.

Culture of Collaboration

Millennials have spoken. A recent study shows that a culture of collaboration is one of the top things Millennials are looking for in an employer. This new generation of workers wants to use technology to connect with the world and their peers in ways that allow them to have deeper and more globalized connections.
Many innovative businesses already integrate familiar external communication platforms into daily work life, but more and more leading companies are looking for secure, internal versions to share knowledge and information in ways that are familiar to younger workers, only through at-work networks.
Indeed, some of today’s most successful and innovative companies build great ideas around the use of physical and virtual tools to inspire and enable a collaborative workforce.

Millennials value flexibility and using strengths

Although companies like Google are known for giving perks like free lunches, few Millennials listed these bonuses as reasons they’d want to work for a company.

People want to work at a company where they are able to learn and be challenged and see results. Then the career growth comes naturally.

For many Millennials, a job is not just a salary – it’s a lifestyle. More workers are channeling their passions at work, focusing on emotional rewards rather than monetary incentives.

The opportunity to learn and grow is key for Millennials. Offer opportunities for continuous learning, and give Millennials the flexibility to try new things. Support them when they want to take risks. Give them the opportunity to test new things and learn from any failures. One practical example is the 20% rule that Google is known for, giving their people the time and space to work on their own projects.

Lori Goler, VP of People at Facebook (#1 Best Place to Work in 2018) says that they look for skills over experience in new hires. The focus is then how they can identify what people are good at and then find jobs for them that play to their strengths.

“younger generation is excited about learning and enjoy feeling like they are contributing to a bigger mission”

Making an impact

Finally, Millennials care about being challenged, impacting society and making a difference in the world. Working in companies that are forward thinking allows them to be on the cutting-edge of society and see their ideas come to fruition.

Along the same lines, Millennials are more likely to seek out companies with progressive management. A majority of Millennials, 65 percent, say they’d rather work for an organization whose mission they believe in than a company that pays a lot.

The VP of People at Facebook, Lori Goler, said that according to their interval data of their employees, she lifts up the importance of young professionals feeling that they are adding value to a company’s mission. She says that the Facebook team has had it’s growth rate because the “younger generation is excited about learning and enjoy feeling like they are contributing to a bigger mission”.

If a Millennial feels that they are not personally connected to your company, they likely won’t stick around. Retaining employees is just as important as attracting them, so be sure to align your mission with your workers and create a platform for their voice.

Perks like foosball tables, nap rooms or espresso bars are not the reasons Millennials are attracted to a job or company. It’s far more important that their work has a clear purpose for themselves, the organization and the world. When you are able to create a culture of collaboration, a sense of making an impact and flexibility – Millennials will more likely want to be in with you and your company on the ride for the long-term.

Author

Sharzad Modeli is a global speaker and Strategic Consultant for mid to large companies including IKEA, EWork Group, Trust Partner, and more. Her vision is to spread good ideas through people and media.