3 Positive Secrets of the Millennials plus 12 super resources

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Oh, the joys of Millennials, those fresh-faced critters who were born between 1980 and 2000!

It seems there’s a weeeee bit of controversy (just like there was a weeee bit of raindrops in Hurricane Ike) regarding hiring these unique individuals. 

So!  I’ve decided to focus today’s on the positive benefits hiring millennials…..because I, yes, yours truly, have a very unique insight into them .

You see, one of my hobbies is Martial arts; I train at my local dojo with my kids 2 or 3 times every week.  And…. just about every single one of my senseis is a Millennial, aged between 18 and 26.  Because I’m an adult, I can sit with my senseis before class and chat with them about life, liberty, the pursuit of common sense and the like.

Now, perhaps my millennial colleagues are mutant androids from the Planet Bizarro, but in (just about) every single case, I’ve been impressed by the depth of their thinking and views on politics, getting through college, looking for work and the like. 

True, it could be that kids in the martial arts tend to develop self-discipline above and beyond that of your usual "Mommy, take me to the Mall NOW and buy me a Porsche while you’re at it!" youngsters.  And it could be that because of this, my sampling set is skewed past all mortal comprehension (and having read Millennial hiring experiences, I’m starting to think that!). 

But….if you manage to hire the RIGHT Millennial…

The one who was raised by their parents that a good life is a privilege and one that you earn…

you have a super opportunity to add an all-star cast to your hiring roles.

Consider the following:

Idea #1.)  The RIGHT Millennial has enough enthusiasm to power up Los Angeles.

True, their skills might require more polish than an antique faded Steinway Grand Piano….but that’s something age and experience will deliver in admirable quantities.  Their enthusiasm for learning (think "kid on a roller coaster, wheeee!") virtually guarantees that they will NOT give up until their goals are achieved.  And if they possess the ability to lose their egos and listen to more savvy colleagues, their contributions will tend towards the positive far faster than one might think possible.

I remember to a time back in my late 20s.  I was working at a Very Large Humongous Telecommunications Company That Possessed the Death Star Logo (okay, Bell Labs) and had the excruiciating agony joy of enduring a summer student Millennial in my office.  Turned out, he was supposed to hack together some shell scripts that my parakeets could master with no problems whatsoever….but because it required extra learning on his part, he whined to me:

I’m ONLY a kid you know, what does my boss expect?

Ummm….courage and responsibility, perhaps?

Why do I use this as my first example?  To provide a stark counter to:

I also remember the year before, back in 1990.  My supervisor had brought on 10+ college summer student kids (Hi Flip!) whose abilities were just plain incredibly astounding.  My colleagues Terry, Ed, Dave and all the other imanagers would watch their achievements and wonder just how our boss had picked such a select diverse group of brilliant young minds….they made that particular year one to truly remember.

What was the difference between the first and second examples?

It was their inner drive and spirit! 

If you’re raised right, you KNOW you have to pay your dues and solve problems on your own.

Take me, for example.  I remember when I was hired ‘way back when, those 20-odd years ago.  I was asked by my prospective boss if I knew C libraries.

Well, thought I, I had been IN a library….and I definitely saw the letter C….so I answered in the affirmative.  The day after being hired, I had 132 pages of C-code dumped onto my desk and was told to debug it; talk about a character-building moment!   Never being one to shy from insanity, however, I taught myself that art that evening….and delivered the fixed code to my boss the next day.

End result?  I looked utterly brilliant, my boss was supremely happy, and I discovered that when push came to shove, I could teach myself virtually anything in a very short amount of time indeed.

Quality Millennials always look at problems as opportunities to embrace.

Thus….the RIGHT millennial will have the enthusiasm to wreak miracles.  Next, consider:

Idea #2 – The RIGHT Millennial is NOT yet jaded by corporate politics

One of the benefits hiring the RIGHT millennials is that they have yet to be exposed to the utter pit of decaying doom known as corporate politics.  Thus, they’re willing to put in their best efforts as it helps the team, and NOT just their own personal agenda.

I remember my very first job out of college – I was a salesman for Radio Shack (and as I can’t sell my way out of a wet paper bag, it was a dismal experience indeed).  Because I was newer than a freshly-peeled banana, it was suggested to me that I try and sell computers to the local school district.  Well…it turns out that back then, the local school district was tied up tighter than a monk’s virtue and "owned" by a sales rep who ate mutant alligators for breakfast.  And once he found out I had approached the schools, I very barely avoided being fired on my 2nd day.

That was my first exposure to ‘corporate politics’.  Gad, it has stayed with me to this day.

So!  Let me now counter that experience with my second job, that at AT&T and Bell Labs.  Back in the 1990s, I was part of the iManager team – a group of dynamic 20-somethings who felt the team was all, and we were all the team.  Never before…and never since….did I ever experience such a wonderful corporate working environment; we made miracles happen.

‘course, my next AT&T job had me splatted into a group that was more dysfunctional than the Simpsons on steroids and valium, all at the same time.  Go figure!

Ah, memories.  But I digress. 

And my 3rd positive secret of the millennials is:

Idea #3 – The RIGHT Millennial remembers those who helped out in the weeee beginnings.

Giving the RIGHT millennial a sterling opportunity will result in said young professional remembering you with great apprecation.  Next year, or 5 years from now, or a decade or heck, even 18 years in the future…..you can always reach out again and touch that individual….who, by that time, probably has achieved great success in her or his career and would be thrilled to help network you with their crowd.

How can you beat that?

In closing, yes, true, we do have articles like:

• All millennials aren’t created equal
• Gender Pay Gap and Millennials
• Is Gen X Okay With Gen Y-Millennials at Work?
• Is Gen X Okay With Gen Y-Millennials-at Work?  Part II
• Managing the Millennials: Part 1
• Millennials Ad Nauseum
• Millennials Are Taking Over the Workplace – Is HR Prepared?
• Millennials need to get real about work world
• Millennials want bags of money and praise, author says
  
• Much Lauded, Sort of Hated…That’s Us Millennials
  
• Note to Millennials: You Aren’t Workforce Royalty Yet
• Ten Things Every Recruiting Professional Should Know About Millennials
• The Millenials cometh
• What Millennial Works Want: How to Attract and Retain Generation Y Workers

Just remember – Millennials, like us, are all unique.  You simply have to hunt for the gold that’s hidden in the dross.  Time consuming, yes….but utterly ever so worthwhile.

Enjoy,

Barbara Ling

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