TOP QUALITIES TO LOOK FOR IN MILLENNIAL JOB CANDIDATESTips, suggestions, and inspiration from GennGlobal

INTRODUCTION

Millennials - those who are born in the 1980s and 1990s - are an interesting enigma for hiring managers.

On one hand, Millennials are digital natives and often possess instinctive digital technology skills, making them attractive for many positions. However, they don’t have as long of a job history as older, more experienced candidates.

So how do you make hiring decisions involving these Millennials?

Next, we will discuss how to ascertain useful information about Millennial job candidates with brief professional histories.

WILLINGNESS TO TEACH THEMSELVES

One attribute to look for in any job candidate is an aptitude for professional development. To determine if a candidate has this ability, you can examine past experiences where they were encouraged to teach themselves.

To do this, pay close attention to a candidate’s educational experiences, problem-solving methods, and extracurricular activities.

A history of academic success or a great deal of involvement with extracurricular activities are indicators of a desire to teach oneself.

PAST EXAMPLES OF INITIATIVE

Taking initiative is important in the workplace because it shows a willingness to work independently, as well as take on more tasks and responsibilities.

Initiative can be effectively measured, or projected, using the same methods described in the last slide.

Even if a Millennial job candidate lacks years of experience, an impressive level of personal initiative can help compensate in this area.

PRESENTATION

How a job candidate presents themself can tell you more information about that person than you might think.

You can use the “eyeball test” to receive a more accurate insight into how they want to be perceived by others, as well as their commitment to professionalism.

This process is important when putting together a profile on a prospective job candidate, which can greatly impact hiring decisions.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Monitoring your candidate’s social media presence can tell you a lot about what they do in their spare time and what they are comfortable sharing with the world.

While Millennials might not have a lengthy job history, they almost certain will have a social media presence, which you can examine to find answers to these questions.

Additionally, if social media usage is required for the position in question, the information received is even more valuable.