No matter your age,
you've probably thought about how your gray hair or your baby face affects your job search.
Experienced job seekers worry about age discrimination because they believe
hiring managers think they're too old. Younger job seekers complain that their
accomplishments don't get the attention and respect they deserve and that
people don't value their skills due to their relatively few years of
experience.
Can
we learn anything from members of different generations when it comes to job
search? Consider the following things Millennials, also known as Gen-Y (born
between the late 1970s and early 2000s), do that all job seekers should:
1. They use
social networking to connect and extend their network. While
some criticize Gen-Y for sacrificing in-person conversations and preferring to
communicate via text and Facebook, everyone could learn something from this
generation's ability to extend their networks via online and technical tools.
Don't underestimate the importance of your digital footprint—what people can
find out about you online.Jobvite's research indicates 92 percent of companies in
the United States use social networks and media to find talent this year.
That's up from 78 percent five years ago. When you're technologically savvy, it
is easier to tap into this network.
2. They collaborate.
Gen-Y is known for their interest in interaction, collaboration, and
connectivity. Other generations can benefit by embracing the interconnectedness
that extends networking beyond lip service to actual engagement.
3. They
demonstrate flexibility and multi-task effectively. Most people
would agree that Millennials are some of the most agile workers. They're known
to be able to manage several projects simultaneously and to easily shift from
one thing to the next with ease. While you may not want to work on four
projects at once, you can try to be less set in your ways. Hiring managers
value flexibility, and if you can demonstrate this skill, you'll be more
competitive for positions.
4. They're
creative and innovative. In a recent Forbes article, writer
Jenna Goudreau quoted Amy Lynch, co-author ofThe
M-Factor: How the Millennial Generation is Rocking the Workplace,
as saying, "Millennials are not locked into limited, linear patterns of
thinking about industry issues or challenges." And Goudreau notes:
"Young employees construct solutions the way the web works, using creative
networks and associations. In today's knowledge economy, the ability to
innovate will have hiring managers salivating."
Many
employers appreciate Gen Y's can-do attitude and their ability to find ways to get
the work done, even when the task appeared impossible.
5. They seek
more than just a paycheck. Goudreau's article also quotes Paul
Alofs, author of Passion Capital, when he said,
"An employee's passion is the company's best resource. When people's jobs
are aligned with what they care about, they put in the extra effort, and it
flows straight to the bottom line." Many authors have pointed out that
Millennials have a tendency to choose meaning and personal passions over money
when it comes to their career choices. It may be more difficult for older
workers with more external responsibilities to make choices this way, but
consider how this mind set may help you make the best career
decisions possible.
6. They get
experience where they can. Gen-Yers actively participate in
internships, volunteer work, and online learning, plus they embrace leadership
opportunities large and small. If you're having a hard time landing a job,
think about what you might be able to do to add the experiences and skills you
need to your career materials.
7. They move on.
Dan Schawbel, managing partner of Millennial Branding, notes that his company's
studies show Millennials leave their corporations at the two-year mark. He
says, "In comparison, Gen-X stays about five years and Baby Boomers stay
about seven years at a company before leaving." While pundits pin this
tendency to a lack of loyalty on the part of Gen-Y workers, there's another
angle to this often-cited statistic. How many experienced workers stay in their
jobs beyond the time when they're learning, growing, and enjoying the jobs?
Consider
how moving to another opportunity may inspire you to maintain and leverage your
network, keep your skills sharp, and maintain your interest in what you're doing
at work.
8. They
consider owning a business. Millennial Branding's and
Beyond.com's Multigenerational Job Search survey found that the number of
people between ages 18 and 29 who are in the process of setting up their
own companies has
increased by 50 percent in the last year alone. In the future, more
professionals will need to market themselves as independent contractors or
business owners. Gen-X and Baby Boomers should begin to think about how they
can succeed as entrepreneurs in the new economy.
