Finding a job as a millennial isn’t always a cakewalk. Sometimes you’ll have to go through many interviews without landing a position.
This can be a bit disheartening and demotivating. So, if you’re struggling with the idea of a millennial job interview, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the meetings. We’ll also take a look at how to prepare and follow up.
Why Are Millennials Job Hopping?
Millennials get a bad rap for job hopping. That means they have a tendency to switch occupations often.
While many people may consider this a negative trait, there are quite a few reasons behind it.
Low Engagement
The first reason millennials like to job-hop is low engagement.
Living in our fast-paced world can be exciting, but it has its drawbacks. Because of overstimulation, people find it difficult to stay interested in their jobs.
Millennials will have an especially hard time connecting and engaging with an occupation.
On top of that, companies struggle with giving their workers a reason to stay. Whether it’s a lack of perks or a dull job environment, the workplace isn’t always inviting.
Lack of Job Satisfaction
Millennials are one of the most educated generations in recorded history. That means they have the capability to handle a lot of complex tasks.
Sadly, that means that normal hum-drum activities don’t give them any gratification. Instead, millennials want their jobs to challenge them.
Unfortunately, most workplaces will have an issue keeping that up. The result is a worker with a lack of job satisfaction.
This can impact the employee’s ability to perform their duties.
Lack of Work-Life Balance
A healthy work-life balance has a different definition across generations. For millennials, this usually entails a job that allows them to have an active social life.
When workers move up the corporate ladder, their responsibilities will increase. This allows for less time to unwind and relax.
As a result, it’ll leave millennials overworked and exhausted. Unfortunately, most workers can’t keep up with this busy schedule.
So, the more convenient option is to find another job that provides a better work-life balance.
Lack of Compensation
As we mentioned, millennials are a highly educated generation. That typically means they expect a certain level of compensation.
Yet, due to inflation and the competitive nature of the workforce, this is tough to achieve.
For that reason, a large majority of millennials feel like they’re underpaid. That will have a major impact on their loyalty and connection to the workplace.
What Millennials Expect From Employers
Expectations can vary from one employee to the next. Although, most millennials have a few basic needs from a job.
Here are a few examples of what they may consider being the most important aspects.
Work-Life Balance
Unlike other age groups, millennials place a lot of importance on having a life outside of work. Because of that, they expect an occupation with a schedule that will allow this.
That doesn’t mean that they need fixed timetables. Instead, they focus on not letting their working hours exceed 40 per week.
On top of that, they expect overtime pay for any extra time they have to put in.
Development Opportunities
As human beings, we’re always looking for ways to better ourselves and make life easier. This is especially true for millennials.
They’ll spend a lot of their time searching for opportunities that can advance their careers. That includes courses to improve skills or promotions.
This will make them feel like there’s always a new challenge to face. Due to that, both job engagement and satisfaction will get a nice boost.
Opportunities for Remote or Hybrid Work
In the past few years, more people have had the chance to work from home than ever before. On top of that, technology has made handing in assignments online a breeze.
This led to the popularization of remote jobs. Some people prefer to work from home all the time, while others enjoy hybrid positions.
These are jobs where you only have to go into the office about half the time.
Nowadays, millennials will expect some opportunities where that is possible.
Work That Aligns With Their Values
With the rise of social media, people became more vocal about their opinions and beliefs. This created a significant shift in the workplace.
Millennials now ensure that a business shares their values before they even apply.
For example, if a company tests on animals, chances are any pet lover will stay away.
Transparency
Transparency is a crucial part of any workplace. It helps the employees feel included and that they’re part of a larger team.
This will increase engagement and make it more likely for workers to stick around.
Good Benefits
Many employees focus on getting a high paycheck. While this is true for millennials, their main aim is to get a boost in benefits.
Whether that means more days off or better health insurance, they’re always looking for perks.
What Is a Millennial Job Interview?
This is one of the most common interview types where the applicant is part of the millennial age group. We categorize them as anyone born between 1981 and 1996.
Millennial interviews are similar to traditional ones, with a few key differences.
For starters, millennial meetings tend to have a much faster pace. Both the interviewer and the applicant will try to get to the point as rapidly as possible.
This leads us to our next point, which is control. In traditional interviews, the examiner will ask most, if not all, questions.
However, with a millennial involved, that quickly changes. The candidate will spend just as much time asking queries of their own.
For that reason, millennial interviews have a more conversational feel.
How to Prepare for a Millennial Job Interview
Interviews are an essential part of the process of getting a job. Everyone prepares for these meetings a little differently.
Although, if you want to boost your acceptance rate, there are a few steps you can take.
First off, research is crucial. You have to walk into the interview with as much knowledge as possible.
There are a few areas that you should focus your time on. That includes data about the company, interviewers, and the work environment.
Once that’s done, make sure to read the job description thoroughly. Go through every line and circle any points that you’d like to ask about during your meeting.
After that, you can move on to practice. Do that by answering a few interview questions online.
Before you walk into the interview, it’s a good idea to have a checklist. This may look something like this:
- Prepare a few questions for the interviewer
- Collect all necessary materials (resume, notebook, and talking points)
Finally, you’ll also want to dress to impress. That means you’ll need to arrive in appropriate interview attire.
Tips for Acing Your Job Interview as a Millennial
If you’re headed into a millennial job interview, there are a couple of tips you can follow.
Right out the gate, you want to arrive about 15 to 20 minutes earlier than scheduled. This will give you plenty of time to find the location and settle in before the meeting.
Then, as you walk into the interview, project confidence and positivity. You can do that by using eye contact and having a warm, friendly smile on your face.
When the conversation starts, be sure to be as polite and professional as possible.
To do that, don’t be shy to drop in a few anecdotes or data about your accomplishments.
In addition, remember to mention how your age is an advantage. Millennials will have more energy and are eager to learn.
Other than that, it’s important that you listen intently to the questions. Plus, take your time to come up with an answer.
This will make you look even more confident in your skills.
Finally, focus on how you describe your future. Be as specific as you want and include as many details as you can.
That’ll make it much easier for you and the interviewer to decide if you’re a good fit for the position.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are 4 Characteristics of Millennials?
There are hundreds of characteristics that millennials share. Although, there are four traits that significantly impact their work ethics.
These include:
- Being adaptive to change and ready to learn and advance
- Valuing a healthy work-life balance and a stable work environment
- Being free-thinking and creative when it comes to problem-solving
- Having an excellent grasp of technology and how to integrate it into a job
Are Millenials Hard Workers?
The answer to this question will be different for each employee. However, millennials tend to be incredibly hard workers.
Even though they like having active social lives, they’re efficient and diligent.
Wrapping Up
Before heading into a millennial job interview, there are a few factors you should be aware of.
For starters, they’re similar to traditional interviews, but they’re more conversational.
Other than that, millennials will have different expectations from a job. For example, they’ll look for a healthy work-life balance and opportunities for growth.
Finally, to prepare for the interview, be sure to research the company and write down a list of questions.
If you have any more job interview questions, feel free to leave us a comment.
