Dive Brief:
- The idea that millennials are lazy or unwilling to pay their dues is a false perception, advises Kaytie Zimmerman, who contributes to Forbes. Instead, it's a difference in work styles from previous generations. Millennials are skilled problem solvers and prefer to work efficiently.
- A recent Udemy survey indicates that "millennials in the age bracket of 21-24 are twice as likely to become bored at work (38%), as compared to 22% of Baby Boomers." The sad thing is that these bored employees are 2x more likely to leave their jobs due to lack of satisfaction. Another study, conducted by Intelligence Group, indicates that "64% of millennials would prefer to earn $40K at a job they love instead of earning $100K at a job they believe is boring."
- Udemy revealed that 80% of millennials would stay with a job that offered learning opportunities, and that employers can reduce boredom by offering tailored learning paths for each employee. Learning new skills that can be applied to the job can inspire more millennials to stay engaged in their careers.
Dive Insight:
It's important to note that negative ideas about the way that millennials work, how they see the world, and how easily they get bored and move on to other jobs are rampant in workplaces. However, millennials are wrongfully tagged as job hoppers and a self-entitled generation. Instead, they require more stimuli in order to stay engaged in their jobs because they have a greater tendency to become bored.
Think about this: millennials have grown up with technology at their fingertips and they are highly skilled at finding information and solving problems. Employers would be wise to provide learning opportunities that harness these skills and help millennials find their place in future leadership roles.
