We’ve seen profile after profile of Generation Xers and Baby Boomers. So what’s the next group coming up the career path? As baby boomers are retiring, experts say that the next generation of people, also known as Millennials, offers an abundance of talent to help fill the void. According to the National Association for Colleges and Employers, college hiring will increase 19.2% this year over 2006 figures. So as business owners begin interviewing and employing this group of Millennials, they will need to know whom they are dealing with. So who are the Millennials? This group is made up of those born between 1980 and 2000. And according to an article published by The Learning Café and American Demographics Enterprising Museum, they are a misunderstood bunch. Here are some of the group’s characteristics: Confident: Millennials were raised by doting parents and a culture that emphasized their “specialness.” Parents told them they could be whatever they wanted to be, and the culture catered to them with customized services like Baby Gap, Nickelodeon, and Sports Illustrated for Kids. They’ve always been told they can succeed, and they expect to. Connected: Millennials are more connected than any previous generation. They grew up with mobile, easily accessible information that is available 24/7. Shortsighted: Paychecks are the dividing factor between Millennials and baby boomers. Millennials fail to see the benefit in saving for retirement if they spend 30 years in a boring job. They prefer to find a job that provides fulfillment, happiness, and a little extra cash for the weekends. Civic-Minded: They were taught to value the greater good and have an innate need to contribute. Inclusive: Millennials value teamwork and their teammates. They’re a no-person-left-behind generation, and they’re willing to fight for fairness. Goal-Oriented: Millennials were brought up in a fast-paced, hectic environment. Their parents hustled them from soccer practice to dance class, so they’re used to finishing one project and moving directly on to the next. Believers in Work/Life Balance: Unlike their parents, they view life and work as two separate entities—and life comes before work. Millennials don’t view it as work/life balance, but rather life/work balance. For more information on this group of Millennials, and for tips on how to manage them, go to www.thelearningcafe.net. Source: The Learning Café and American Demographics Enterprising Museum 2003
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