Tag Archives: millennial monday

Millennial Monday: Social Values

Millennial Monday LogoExpress Employment Professionals recently teamed up with the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, to conduct research about Millennials and their attitudes toward the American Dream. Also known as “Gen Y,” Millennials were born between 1979 and 1995 and make up 30% of the population. As they enter the workforce and establish career paths, it’s important to understand the motives and desires behind this robust generation. To help you get to know “Gen Y,” Movin’ On Up is bringing you an eight-week series titled “Millennial Monday.”

In the last installment of “Millennial Monday,” Express and OSU students surveyed Millennials, the majority of whom are working full or part time, to examine this generation’s attitudes on social values and whether those values have any influence on purchasing habits and career decisions.

A Social Generation
When asked how much time they spend on social media accounts, the majority of Millennials (44%) reported spending 3—5 hours on social media every day. Additionally, 42% spend less than two hours on social media accounts daily, followed by 12% who spend 6—9 hours daily and 2% who spend 10 or more hours daily.

According to the survey, Millennials live up to the stereotype of spending more time on social media than older generations. Compared to the 42% of Millennials who report spending less than two hours a day on social media accounts, 64% of Non-Millennials selected this option. Only 30% of Non-Millennials spend 3—5 hours a day on social media accounts, compared to 44% of Millennials.

The Relevance of Social Movements
While social media use has grown, so have social movements that involve these platforms. Millennials were asked which social movements they are familiar with, and the results include:

  • Ice Bucket Challenge – 95%
  • Starbucks Cup Controversy – 80%
  • Black Lives Matter – 79%
  • Yes All Women – 34%
  • It Gets Better – 22%

Social Values and Important Decisions
Social media movements aren’t the only cultural trend catching the attention of Millennials. When it comes to social values, they want their voices to be heard. Survey respondents ranked social values in order of importance, and the results are as follows:

  • Religious freedom
  • Equal pay
  • Gun control
  • Police brutality
  • Environmental issues

Because social values are relevant to Millennials, it’s no surprise that issues they deem important may impact their purchasing and career path decisions. On a scale of one to five, where five is highly likely, Millennials ranked the following scenarios:

  • “How likely are you to let relevant social issues affect your purchasing decisions?” – 2.83
  • “How likely are you to publicly express your views on a controversial social issue?” – 3.52
  • “How likely are you to let a company’s record or position on relevant social issues affect your desire to work for that company?” – 3.22

Community Impact
According to the survey, Millennials believe they have the ability to change their community, country, and even world in their lifetimes. When it comes to community impact, Millennials feel strongest about their potential to affect change. In fact, only about 5% of respondents believe they don’t have the ability to positively change their communities, compared to nearly 30% who believe they don’t have the ability to change the world. Forty percent of respondents believe they can strongly affect their local community, while 15% believe they can strongly affect the world.

Do your social values impact your purchasing decisions? Do they impact your job search? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Thank you for reading our Millennial Monday series on Movin’ On Up. We hope you gained valuable insight into this important generation.

Miss a week of our Millennial Monday series? Click the links below to check out previous topics in our series.

 

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Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Millennial Monday: Community Engagement

Millennial Monday LogoExpress Employment Professionals recently teamed up with the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, to conduct research about Millennials and their attitudes toward the American Dream. Also known as “Gen Y,” Millennials were born between 1979 and 1995 and make up 30% of the population. As they enter the workforce and establish career paths, it’s important to understand the motives and desires behind this robust generation. To help you get to know “Gen Y,” Movin’ On Up is bringing you an eight-week series titled “Millennial Monday.”

In this week’s installment of “Millennial Monday,” Express and OSU students surveyed Millennials, the majority of whom are working full or part time, to examine this generation’s commitment to their communities.

Community Involvement
The importance of community involvement is evident across all generations. When asked if community involvement is important, 96% of Millennials responded that it is important and 97% of Non-Millennials agreed. While zero Non-Millennials answered “no” to whether or not community involvement is important, 2% of Millennials said it’s not.

Charitable Giving
According to the survey, 85% of Millennials are likely to donate to a charity or nonprofit in the next 12 months, and 85% believe their donations are helpful.
As technology has increased, the ways in which people can give to charitable organizations have also increased. When asked to rank in order of frequency the ways in which they give to charity or nonprofit organizations, Millennials responded:

  • In person
  • Online
  • Mail
  • Text
  • Email
  • Phone

Items Donated
According to the survey results, Millennials may be more willing to give their time rather than their money because time is something they have more of. In fact, one survey participant said, “You can gain and give a lot more when you actually put time into something. I don’t have a lot of money, but I have a lot of time.”

How You Can Give Back
On Saturday, June 11, Express Employment Professionals offices across North America will gather together for Brand It Blue Day. The event is a day of service aimed at helping in the fight against hunger, and you can be a part of it! Whether you’re a job seeker who just graduated or someone who has been out of the workforce for an extended period of time, volunteering adds valuable experience to your resume. Not only does volunteering help set you apart from the competition, it can also provide a sense of fulfillment as you give back to your community. Visit ExpressPros.com to learn more about this event and find out how you can participate.

How do you give back to your community? Do you think community involvement is important? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Keep checking Movin’ On Up every Monday for more insight on this important generation.

Miss a week of our Millennial Monday series? Click the links below to check out previous topics in our series.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Millennial Monday: The Interview Process

Millennial Monday LogoExpress Employment Professionals recently teamed up with the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, to conduct research about Millennials and their attitudes toward the American Dream. Also known as “Gen Y,” Millennials were born between 1979 and 1995 and make up 30% of the population. As they enter the workforce and establish career paths, it’s important to understand the motives and desires behind this robust generation. To help you get to know “Gen Y,” Movin’ On Up is bringing you an eight-week series titled “Millennial Monday.”

In this week’s installment of “Millennial Monday,” Express and OSU students surveyed Millennials, the majority of whom are working full or part time, to examine how this generation approaches the interview process.

Interview Dress Code
When it comes to the attire you should wear for an interview, the majority of Millennials agree that “business professional” is the most appropriate. In fact, the general consensus among all generations is that this attire is the best choice for interviews. Sixty-eight percent of Millennials and 65% of Non-Millennials selected this answer, followed by 29% of Millennials and 35% of Non-Millennials who selected “business casual.”

Interestingly, the majority (55%) of Millennials reported they would wear business professional attire to an interview even if they found out the company has a business casual dress code.

Interviewer Profile
The survey results suggest that Millennials don’t have a preference when it comes to whether their interviewer is male or female. Fifty-six percent of Millennials reported no preference, along with 71% of Non-Millennials.

When it comes to the age of their interviewer, Millennials reported that they would prefer to be interviewed by someone older than they are. Sixty percent chose “older,” 6% selected “younger,” and 34% reported “no preference.”

Interview Preparation Interviews can be stressful, and Millennials aren’t immune to the anxiety that often comes with landing an interview. When asked about the hardest part of preparing for an interview process, answers included:

  • Research
  • Confidence
  • Nerves
  • Preparing for questions

When preparing for an interview, there are several steps to make sure you put your best foot forward. According to the survey results, Millennials already practice many of those steps. When asked how they prepare for interviews, answers included:

  • Research the company
  • Print resume
  • Get a good night’s sleep
  • Look at the job description
  • Select an outfit
  • Practice answering possible questions

What to Bring
According to the survey, Millennials believe the number one thing to bring to an interview is your resume (98%), followed by business cards (66%), cover letter (64%), and brief case (21%). While 18% of Millennials think a cell phone is okay to bring to an interview, none of Non-Millennials surveyed selected this option.

Difficult Interview Questions
Interview questions can often be difficult to answer. When asked to select the hardest interview question, Millennials chose:

  • What are your strengths and weaknesses? – 47%
  • Describe a difficult challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it – 30%
  • Where do you see yourself in five years? – 16%

Interview Follow-Up
Following up after an interview is vital in order to stand out from the competition. When asked whether or not they are comfortable following up with a potential employer after an interview, 73% of Millennials said they are comfortable. And, 73% of Millennials reported sending thank you notes after an interview.

What do you think is the most difficult part of preparing for an interview? What tips do you have? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Keep checking Movin’ On Up every Monday for more insight on this important generation.

Miss a week? Click the links below to check out previous topics in our series.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Millennial Monday: Soft Skills and Generational Differences

Millennial Monday LogoExpress Employment Professionals recently teamed up with the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, to conduct research about Millennials and their attitudes toward the American Dream. Also known as “Gen Y,” Millennials were born between 1979 and 1995 and currently make up 30% of the population. As they enter the workforce and establish career paths, it’s important to understand the motives and desires behind this robust generation. To help you get to know “Gen Y,” Movin’ On Up is bringing you an eight-week series titled “Millennial Monday.”

In this week’s installment of “Millennial Monday,” Express and OSU students surveyed Millennials, the majority of whom are working full or part time, to examine whether or not there is a soft skills gap between generations.

Generations in the Workforce
There’s no denying that the current workplace features multiple generations of employers and employees. As the Baby Boomer generation looks toward retirement, Generation Xers continue on their career paths, and Millennials enter the workforce, many different age groups are brought together. In fact, according to our survey, the majority of Millennials (57%) work with people outside of their age group.

Communication Among Generations
When asked how they best communicate with older generations, Millennials responded:

  • In person – 71%
  • By phone – 15%
  • Via email or computer chat – 13%

The Importance of Soft Skills
When it comes to the most important business etiquette and expectations in the workplace, Millennials and Non-Millennials tend to disagree. For Millennials, the top three skills are:

  1. Respect of authority
  2. Punctuality and timeliness
  3. Handshake and eye contact

For Non-Millennials, however, the top three skills are:

  1. Punctuality and timeliness
  2. Handshake and eye contact
  3. Mature vocabulary

While Millennials ranked “mature vocabulary” fifth out of six skills, Non-Millennials ranked it third. Likewise, “respect of authority” was number one for Millennials, but fifth for Non-Millennials.

More Workplace Skills
Other soft skills evaluated in the study include eye contact, professional attire, and the ability to seek out creative inspiration. Of the Millennial respondents, 93% feel comfortable with eye contact, and the majority (70%) would prefer to wear business casual attire in the workplace. The top five sources for Millennial’s creative inspiration are:

  • Art – 30%
  • Books – 23%
  • Nature – 12%
  • Spirituality – 12%
  • The internet – 11%

What skills do you think your generation has to offer the workforce? What skills do you think your generation lacks? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Keep checking Movin’ On Up every Monday for more insight on this important generation.

Miss a week? Click the links below to check out previous topics in our series.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Millennial Monday: Technology and the Workplace

Millennial Monday LogoExpress Employment Professionals recently teamed up with the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, to conduct research about Millennials and their attitudes toward the American Dream. Also known as “Gen Y,” Millennials were born between 1979 and 1995 and currently make up 30% of the population. As they enter the workforce and establish career paths, it’s important to understand the motives and desires behind this robust generation. To help you get to know “Gen Y,” Movin’ On Up is bringing you an eight-week series titled “Millennial Monday.”

In this week’s installment of “Millennial Monday,” Express and OSU students surveyed Millennials, the majority of whom are working full- or part-time, to paint a picture of the generation’s use of technology and social media.

The Devices Millennials Use
It’s no secret that technology has taken over the workplace. From laptops to cell phones, it’s easy to spot technology almost everywhere you look. And no generation understands this technological craze quite like Millennials.

When asked which forms of technology they own, surveyed Millennials selected the following:

  • Laptop – 91%
  • iPhone – 63%
  • Cell phone – 52%
  • Tablet – 50%
  • Desktop – 36%
  • Fitness tracker – 22%
  • Smartwatch – 6%

The majority of survey respondents (29%) reported spending 5 – 7 hours a day using those technological devices, followed by 37% who reported spending 8 – 10 hours a day.

Phone Calls Versus Text Messages
With the rise of smart phones, it isn’t a huge surprise that the Millennial generation prefers to interact in ways other than making traditional phone calls. In fact, 47% of respondents revealed they’d prefer to send someone a text message rather than call them. Only 18% prefer to make a call, and 33% remained neutral.

The Rise of Social Media
Social media is an important piece of communication for the Millennial generation, with 37% of those surveyed revealing they spend 2 – 4 hours a day on social media platforms. Of those platforms, the most popular include:

  • Facebook – 95%
  • YouTube – 78%
  • Instagram – 58%
  • Snapchat – 58%
  • Twitter – 57%
  • Reddit – 51%
  • Tumblr – 16%
  • Vine – 11%

Technological Availability
According to the results of the survey, technology is being introduced to users at a fairly young age. When asked at what age respondents began using technology, 72% selected age 13 or under. More specifically, 35% of Millennials surveyed reported using technology at age 10 or younger.

Despite the availability of technology and the fact that these results suggest a large amount of time spent on such devices, Millennials, for the most part, don’t believe they are overly dependent upon technology. In fact, 61% believe they are not.

How do you use technology in your work place or job search? Do you think your generation is too dependent upon technology? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Keep checking Movin’ On Up every Monday for more insight on this important generation.

Miss a week? Click the links below to check out previous topics in our series.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

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Millennial Monday: The Workplace Millennials Want

Millennial Monday LogoExpress Employment Professionals recently teamed up with the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, to conduct research about Millennials and their attitudes toward the American Dream. Also known as “Gen Y,” Millennials were born between 1979 and 1995 and currently make up 30% of the population. As they enter the workforce and establish career paths, it’s important to understand the motives and desires behind this robust generation. To help you get to know “Gen Y,” Movin’ On Up is bringing you an eight-week series titled “Millennial Monday.”

In this week’s installment of “Millennial Monday,” Express and OSU students surveyed Millennials, the majority of whom are working full or part time, to paint a picture of the generation’s view of the perfect workplace.

A Trendy Culture
For every generation, the image of a perfect workplace is different. As our society changes and technology increases, newer generations look for flexible and remote opportunities, work-life balance, and the right culture fit. For Millennials, a company’s culture can be the deciding factor when it comes to accepting a job offer.

When asked to rank the aspects of a company in order of importance, survey respondents chose “social media presence” as the most important, followed closely by “latest technology.” Also ranked were “speed and timeliness” and “friendly and interactive customer service.”

Elements of An Ideal Workplace
When it comes to what makes up an ideal workplace, respondents selected, in the following order:

  • Treated fairly
  • Involved with the community
  • Informal
  • Small groups
  • Warm temperatures
  • Formal
  • Large groups
  • Cold temperatures

Pay or Passion
As far as picking between a job with high pay and a job that they’re passionate about, Millennials know what they want. According to the survey, an overwhelming majority of Millennials (80%) would rather have a job that they’re passionate about. For the remaining 20%, pay is more important to job satisfaction.

A Better Boss
According to the survey, the qualities Millennials value in a boss are, in the following order:

  • Reasonable expectations
  • Relatable
  • Punctual
  • Laid back
  • Someone you consider a friend
  • Stern

Best Time for Productivity
At what point in the day do you perform at your highest level? If you’re like the majority of Millennials (37%), you work best from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Other peak performance times include 12 to 3 p.m. (24%) and 7 p.m. or later (16%). The worst time for productivity, according to the survey results, is before 7 a.m. (2%).

The Effects of Natural Light
When asked if they perform better in environments with a high amount of natural light, the majority of respondents (59%) reported that they do. For 5% of people, natural light does not help them perform better, followed by an additional 35% who don’t think the amount of natural light in their workplace affects their job performance.

The Importance of Fitness
Many businesses realize there are numerous benefits to promoting a healthy culture in the workplace, from offering wellness initiatives to gym memberships. Placing importance on fitness can serve companies well with the younger generations. In fact, 67% of surveyed Millennials agree that they are more likely to be attracted to a company that has a highly active culture.

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Do you agree with the survey results? What does your ideal workplace look like? Share with us in the comments section below!

Keep checking Movin’ On Up every Monday for more insight on this important generation.

Miss a week? Click the links below to check out previous topics in our series.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Millennial Monday: First Generation Millennials and the American Dream

COM16MM_AmericanDream_1200X900Express Employment Professionals recently teamed up with the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK, to conduct research about Millennials and their attitudes toward the American Dream. Also known as “Gen Y,” Millennials were born between 1979 and 1995 and currently make up 30% of the population. According to The Council of Economic Advisers for the White House, “Millennials are now the largest, most diverse generation in the U.S.” As they enter the workforce and establish career paths, it’s important to understand the motives and desires behind this robust generation. To help you get to know “Gen Y,” Movin’ On Up is bringing you an eight-week series titled “Millennial Monday.”

In this week’s installment of “Millennial Monday,” Express and OSU students surveyed Millennials, the majority of whom are working full- or part-time, to paint a picture of the generation’s view of heritage and its effect on the American Dream. (more…)