Josh Tolan is the CEO of Spark Hire, a video powered hiring network that connects job seekers and employers through video resumes and online interviews. Connect with him and Spark Hire on Facebook and Twitter.
The Millennial workforce is the future. Some of the biggest companies today were founded by Millennials looking to innovate. Just look at social media giant, Facebook. Your company might not be located in a dorm room, but this doesn't mean a great Millennial candidate wouldn't be a welcome addition to your team.
Besides, your company can't really afford to ignore Millennials. By 2014 they will comprise up to 36% of the workforce, and by 2020 that number will jump to 46%. Realizing the importance of these young superstars, many cities have begun working overtime to lure Millennial workers to take up residence.
A recent survey by Best Colleges Online looked at cities clued in to the importance of young workers. There's plenty your company can learn from these cities to attract the best and brightest. The next generation of the workforce is here; so get them in your corner by following these tips.
Offer Great Amenities
Niagara Falls knows the best way to get great young talent into the area is to offer great amenities. Most recent graduates and young workers are still paying off sizable student loans from their education. Seeing this was a major issue with young workers, Niagara Falls is offering to pay off student-loan debt for graduates who will move to certain areas. The hope is that these Millennials will lead the charge in revitalizing these areas.
Take a drop of wisdom from the Falls, and offer attractive benefits that Millennials won't be able to turn down. Niagara Falls looked at a common problem Millennials face, and offered to solve it. If your company does the same, whether it's health benefits or growth opportunities, you'll nab top talent unable to resist your company's perks. The key is to know what great Millennial candidates want, and then grant those wishes.
Reach Out Personally
Young workers like to know they're not just a cog in a machine, a nameless face in a crowd. That's probably why Pittsburgh, Pa., Mayor Luke Ravenstahl took a more personal approach to attracting Millennial candidates. The mayor sent emails out to college students, urging them to stay and work in the area.
Sometimes the personal touch is all you need to attract great candidates and show them your company cares. Make your application process more personal, so candidates don't feel like they're nothing more than a resume in an applicant tracking system. This could mean reaching out to talent on social media or even using online video to interview candidates earlier in the process. Whatever you do, make sure you treat the candidate like a person instead of just a resume on your desk.
Develop An Exciting Culture
Why is New York City on most lists of great places for Millennials to work? Because it's filled to the brim with excitement, culture and opportunities. New York is the city that never sleeps because there's always something to do — day or night.
Make your company exciting by developing a fun company culture, and young workers will follow. Use all your social media channels, branded web pages and recruitment materials to tell your company narrative. Why is your company a great place to work? Why do employees love coming to work every day? Using an online video is a great way to let candidates "see" your company culture while also branding yourself as tech savvy. Whatever method you use to disseminate this message, make sure your company culture is a clear part of your narrative.
Listen to Feedback
Cincinnati, Ohio has currently implemented a campaign asking residents to weigh in on what makes the city great — and what needs improvement. To appeal to young workers, the city realizes it needs to listen to them.
Look to your candidates as beta testers for your company's hiring process and company culture. Discover what applicants find attractive about your company. Why are they applying, and why are they passionate about your organization? Knowing why Millennial workers, and workers of all ages, want to work for your company will help you play up your best features to attract more candidates.
Most importantly though, ask candidates what they would improve about your company and hiring process. This way you'll be in a better position to see what's holding your company back from being an attractive organization for young professionals.
Cities are realizing the value of adding Millennial workers to their businesses and communities. Some of the same techniques these cities are using can also help your company find and hire the best young workers. As long as you tell your story, connect with candidates and listen, you'll be in a great position to nab tomorrow's top talent.
What are some hiring lessons you can take from the best cities for Millennials? Share in the comments below.
Social Media Job Listings
Every week we post a list of social media and web job opportunities. While we publish a huge range of job listings, we've selected some of the top social media job opportunities from the past two weeks to get you started. Happy hunting!
- Digital Project Manager at Weber Shandwick in New York, NY
- Software Engineer at Yelp in San Francisco
- Social Media Journalist at TMG in Washington, DC
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Terraxplorer
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