5 Tips for Recruiting Millennials

Growing companies are constantly looking for top-tier talent. Today, hiring managers are competing to hire the best and brightest. Many employers are working to hire members of the millennial generation, which will make up 50% of the workforce by 2020.

In order to get ahead of the competition, you need to rethink your hiring and recruiting strategy. The goal is to have optimal talent come to you instead of the other way around. If your company values match their personal values, chances are you won’t have to waste time and resources trying to attract them.

Here are five tips for recruiting millennials that will put you ahead of the competition. Here’s how to realign your hiring strategy to better adapt to a changing workforce.

1. Rethink your communication style.

Make sure you’re communicating well both online and in person. Update your social media, as millennials are more likely than any other generation to follow a company on social platforms to learn more about it.

In person, remember millennials appreciate authenticity. Don’t send them a cookie-cutter response with their name dropped into the greeting at the beginning! Putting a name and face to the corporate presence and hiring manager can make all the difference in projecting authenticity to potential recruits.

2. Balance growth and short-term wins. 

This one can be tricky. But it’s important to emphasize opportunities for growth and ensure the new hire can have an impact in the short-term as well.

During the hiring process, it’s best to discuss any short-term goals for the position. Then show a career map that explicitly states realistic promotions and internal movement.

3. Emphasize benefits before a paycheck.

As the workplace becomes more human, certain benefits aren’t just appreciated – they’re expected. Millennials care more about vacation time, health insurance, parental leave, and other benefits than they do about a higher salary.

While you shouldn’t forgo negotiating a paycheck, keep in mind it’s not the be-all-end-all in persuading a candidate to join the team.

4. Share your “why.”

Work means something to millennials. Share your company’s mission and values and take time to talk about your projected growth and vision for the future. Share why you do what you do in an authentic way. Don’t be cheesy or unattached! Talk about why you personally love your job and share other employees’ stories, too.

5. Utilize video.

This is especially good for creative or nontraditional jobs. Share a “day in the life” video showing exactly what an employee in the potential hire’s position would do in a typical day. Interview employees and ask them on camera what their favorite part of the day is. It helps put a face to the company and gives the recruit a better idea of what they can expect if they were to sign on.

If you start here, and this is far away from your current cultural climate, you might want to rethink more than just hiring.  Times are changing, and fast. Are you properly positioned for future and growth?

Like this blog? Read on to learn more about what millennials want in a workplace.

Attract and Retain Millennials Across the Demographic Spectrum

Key Tips for Hiring Millennials

Increase Your Business ROI By Renting Space in Buildings with Amenities

Is your suburban office location part of your recruitment problem? Rethink your location – fill out the form below to book a tour at Key Tower, Cleveland’ premiere office space.