There are so many stereotypes floating around about millennials — that they come off as needy, lazy and entitled, to name just a few. While many of these are rooted in fiction, what’s important to note is that at the end of the day, they have the same underlying values and crave the same need for acceptance and recognition as every other generation in the workplace.
Here are some gifs that prove that millennials are just like us.
They are not lazy (like some people think) — they just need the right motivation, just like anyone else. Yes, a paycheck is obviously important, but it’s not the only thing millennials look for; they want to be inspired and they want a sense of personal fulfillment in their careers.
They might seem like the kids who crash at mom and dad’s so they don’t have to pay rent, but millennials work hard and prioritize their education. In fact, more millennials have obtained college degrees than any other generation of young adults, according to this report. And they are are “sizing up to be the most educated generation in history,” according to this report.
They are on an ongoing journey of self-discovery and want to make an impact in the world (and who doesn’t!). According to a 2014 White House report:
Quality of life appears to be a focus of this generation: Millennials value staying close to family and friends, having free time for recreation, and working in creative jobs. However, they also want to make a positive social impact on their own children and communities, as well as on society as a whole.
They get their daily news first thing in the morning — just in a different way. According to research from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation: “Millennial’s main sources for news are television (65%) and the Internet (59%). Lagging behind are newspapers (24%) and radio (18%).”
They don’t want to simply coast through life — like many people assume — they want to do meaningful work that challenges them. “[Millennials] look for interesting and challenging work, personal development, a custom career plan, and an organization that reflects their values,” according to this report.
They may sometimes come off as entitled — but what they really want is to be recognized for putting in a hard day’s work just like everyone else and know that their efforts are going to be rewarded. They may just voice it more…
There is a sense of togetherness and camaraderie among millennials in the workplace, and they feel a strong sense of community — which some may find surprising. According to Forbes:
Millennials who stay at their jobs for more than five years are passionate about their work. Another reason Millennials stay? The bonds with their co-workers and the belief in their company’s mission and purpose. Millennials want to volunteer together and feel connected through a shared passion for their company’s cause work, ideally through initiatives that help their surrounding community.
Millennials have often been referred to as the generation that doesn’t live to work but works to live. But at the core, they want the same thing every other generation has also striven to: a healthy work-life balance to live a life outside the cubicles. According to a Washington Post report:
Survey after survey … show[s] that what millennials most want is flexibility in where, when and how they work. Millennials as well as men were most likely in the survey to say that they would take a pay cut, forgo a promotion or be willing to move to manage work-life demands better.
Tweet at @CBforEmployers: Do you agree that millennials are more similar to other generations that people give them credit for? What are some of the biggest misconceptions of this generation?
