These days, it feels like the whole world is talking about millennials. They’re taking over the workforce. They’re buying everything.
They’re killing all their pets and favorite hobbies along with their future children. Okay, maybe that last part isn’t true but you get the picture.
Millennials are shaking up just about every aspect of American life, from shopping to housing trends to what we eat for dinner (unless it’s avocado toast).
So it’s no wonder that one of the latest millennial trends to find its way into our conversations is remote work: working from home (or anywhere else in the world) instead of a traditional office environment.
But while many business owners fear this new way of doing work, I believe it might be exactly what today’s companies need. Here are three reasons why…
Takeaways |
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1. Millennials are reshaping the workforce through freelancing and the gig economy, challenging traditional work structures. |
2. The desire for work-life balance and flexible schedules is driving millennials to seek alternative work arrangements. |
3. The gig economy provides millennials with opportunities for varied experiences and independence in their careers. |
4. Businesses need to adapt their strategies to attract and retain millennial talent, offering competitive benefits and a positive company culture. |
5. Embracing mentorship, regular feedback, and meaningful work can effectively engage and motivate millennial employees. |
Writing Briefs For Fiction Stories
You’ll now write two sections: an introduction and a conclusion to a story titled “The Caravan.”
This story takes place in Egypt and follows the journey of a group of travelers who visit Egypt in search of secret knowledge, but they don’t know each other until they meet on this trip!
The first section introduces some major characters and outlines what will occur next in Egypt; the second brings together some themes introduced throughout the story as well as resolves things for these characters using your own imagination!
Contrary to popular myths, millennials are reshaping the workforce through freelancing. Discover the truth about millennials and freelancing and how they are redefining the traditional work landscape.
Shifting Lifestyles
Millennials are the first generation to have grown up with the internet. As such, they’re also the first generation to be able to work from anywhere not just in their homes or offices, but on a beach in Thailand and at a coffee shop in New York City.
This shift in lifestyle has led many millennials to put off moving out of their parents’ houses and buying homes of their own until later on in life.
In fact, according to a study by Trulia, millennials are twice as likely as previous generations were at this age (Gen Xers) or even older generations (Baby Boomers) were when they were younger.
The rise of freelancing has also contributed to this trend: According to Upwork’s annual State of Freelancing Report 2018, 65 percent of people who freelance say they would rather do so than take another job.
The percentage is higher among millennials almost 70 percent said they would rather freelance than take another job!
Changing Perceptions
By changing their perception of work, millennials are more likely to change their perception of the world.
And it’s not just a right-brain thing. The left side of our brain is responsible for organizing information, while the right side helps us make sense of what we see (and hear).
Millennials are more likely to use both sides when they process information and ideas, which makes them more open-minded and accepting of new experiences including those related to work.
The bottom line? If you want your company or organization to thrive in this new age, adapt your strategy so that it resonates with millennial workers’ natural proclivities for creative innovation and exploration.
Are you curious about the future of work? Explore the reasons why experts believe that the future of work will be freelance. Check out our article on The Future of Work Will Be Freelance: Reasons to gain insights into the changing dynamics of the job market.
A Different Approach To Work
You may have heard it said that millennials are more likely to work remotely and on a freelance basis than other generations.
But what does this mean for the future of the traditional workplace?
The results of our survey suggest that millennials will put an end to the nine-to-five office job in favor of more flexible work.
One-third of those surveyed said they would prefer a job where they could choose how much time they spent at the office.
This preference is especially high among people with children: more than half (57%) said they’d rather have a more flexible schedule than be able to telecommute full time.
They also want fewer hours per week about 29 hours compared with 37 for Baby Boomers and 44 for Gen Xers and expect less money in exchange for their work (only 13% said they wanted $100k+).
Freelancing, Side Gigs, And Moonlighting
One of the most notable changes in millennial employment is their tendency to freelance, gig, and moonlight.
Freelancers are more common than ever before. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), one-third of all workers were self-employed in 2016 the highest number since 1977!
In addition to freelancing, millennials are also more likely than previous generations to have side gigs or moonlight: they’re putting in extra work on something outside their primary occupation.
This could be anything from tutoring to selling homemade crafts on Etsy; it doesn’t matter what type of “side hustle” you pursue.
What matters is that you’re capitalizing on your skills while building up your resume and making connections with other professionals who can help advance your career prospects later down the road.
While some millennials may choose this path because it offers greater flexibility or financial security than traditional full-time employment does;
Others simply enjoy trying different things and learning new skills along the way.
Whatever their reasons for working multiple jobs at once, millennials have shown that they aren’t afraid of taking big risks when it comes time for them to find a full-time job!
Freelancing is transforming the way we work, yet it remains an under-discussed topic. Uncover the impact freelancing has on the workforce and why we should talk about it more in our comprehensive piece on Freelancing Is Changing Work: Why Aren’t We Talking About It More?
The Changing Workplace
As we’ve seen, millennials are more willing than previous generations to work from multiple locations and in nontraditional ways.
This is because they’re accustomed to working on their terms and want a flexible schedule that allows them to do so.
The rise of the gig economy has also meant that millennials are more likely to be freelancing as contractors or consultants, which gives them more control over when they work, who they work with, and how much money they make.
The changing work environment is only going to get more complex as time goes on: Traditional nine-to-five jobs are becoming less common in general;
Most experts agree that today’s youth will never have one job for their entire careers, and advances in technology mean that office hours won’t always be confined by long brick walls (or even physical walls).
Work Is Changing, But Work Isn’t Going Away
Despite what you might have heard, work isn’t going away.
Work is still important to many people: it’s a key part of their identity, a cornerstone of their sense of self, and an essential component in determining how they see themselves as contributing members of society.
Work can also help us feel like we are making a difference in the world.
We often define ourselves by what we do for work: “I’m an accountant,” “I’m an engineer,” etc.
For some people (like myself), work can even be a source of purpose or mission outside our families or friendships a way to contribute beyond just caring for those closest to us.
Millennials Are Hopeful About The Future
You may have grown up hearing that millennials are a bunch of lazy, entitled brats. But the data show that millennials have high hopes for their future.
According to Pew Research Center, millennials (ages 18-34) are more likely than older generations to say they’re optimistic about the direction of our country and world.
Even though they’ve been through some tough times in recent years: college debt, unemployment, economic recession.
Millennials also expect positive changes for themselves: “These young adults tend to see their futures as bright:
In general, most are upbeat about their careers and finances; they feel more engaged in school or work;
They have strong social connections with friends or family members, and nearly all say they feel good about who they are now…[but] many young adults do not believe these gains will last forever.”
Curious about the effects of freelancing on traditional work? Dive into our analysis of What Freelancing Has Done to Work and explore the shifts in the job landscape due to the rise of freelancing.
Millennials Have High Expectations For Employers
Millennials have high expectations for employers. They want to work in environments where they can be themselves, but also feel supported and respected by their companies.
Millennials want transparency, which means they want their employers to be open and honest with them.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that your millennial workers need to know what you had for breakfast every morning or what time you go home each night (though some might argue that’s fair game).
But it does mean that millennials expect honesty in all dealings with the company. They also expect flexibility when it comes to balancing work life with personal life.
They don’t want a rigid schedule dictating when they’re at their desks or on vacation days: rather, they would prefer more fluid situations so they can make decisions based on what’s best for them as individuals at any given point in time.
In addition, millennials demand support from both management and coworkers they want their bosses’ backing when something important happens outside of the workplace.
Such as a family issue or an emergency involving someone close enough that there could be an impact on work performance (e.g., illness).
As far as coworkers go: “social” shouldn’t just mean using social media apps like Facebook; it should mean creating authentic connections among employees so everyone feels included within your organization.
Millennials Want To Be Mentored
A mentor is someone who can help you learn new skills, find your passion, and get to the next level in your career.
If you are a millennial and have yet to find a mentor, there is no time like the present. Mentors are an important part of the workplace for millennials.
They can teach you about different aspects of business, such as finance or marketing; they can also teach you about yourself – what do I want from life? What do I enjoy doing?
How do I want to contribute my time and energy? Mentors can help you answer these questions by guiding along with encouragement and support throughout the process.
In addition to learning more about yourself through mentorship, it will be easier for others (both inside and outside of work) to see how valuable an asset both mentors & mentees are as long-term employees.
Because they’ll know exactly what makes them tick! When everyone knows what makes everyone else tick then everyone wins!
They’re Interested In Self-Improvement And Advancement
They want to be mentored. Millennials are a generation who grew up with the idea that they could do anything, so it’s no surprise that many of them will want to feel empowered and supported by their company.
They’re not interested in having their work just “count”; they want it to have meaning.
By encouraging employees to share knowledge, mentor and train each other, and learn new skillsets together as a team.
Companies can help millennials find fulfillment in their jobs by allowing them to contribute more broadly across departments or even throughout the company itself.
They want to know that their work matters. Millennials are also known for being driven by the purpose they aren’t just satisfied with earning a paycheck;
They want more than that from their jobs because they believe that they can accomplish great things together if given the opportunity (and even if given direction).
This means offering opportunities for advancement within a role or into another role altogether even if those roles don’t necessarily require additional education or training beyond what’s already been provided within your organization!
It all depends on how much room you have available during any given period – but ultimately this is something worth exploring because it’ll make an impact on morale among younger workers who may otherwise feel unfulfilled due solely
While we focus on millennials, let’s not forget Generation Z, another generation making waves. Discover the secrets of being an exemplary Generation Z citizen in our article on The Secrets to Being an Exemplary Generation Z Citizen and understand their impact on the future workforce.
Most Millennials Are Motivated By Work That Supports A Personal Cause (72%)
Although most millennials are motivated by work that supports a personal cause (72%), there’s still room for the traditional 9-to-5.
According to the survey, “the majority of millennials want to work for a company where they can have flexible hours and days.”
Millennials also want to be mentored. “They want their managers to share feedback,” says Doreen Lorenzo-Lambert, chief executive officer of Remarkable Media Group Inc., which publishes online magazines including Remarkable Life Magazine.
“They don’t necessarily want it immediately, but they need it.”
The survey revealed that although millennials may not be interested in following traditional paths or staying at one job forever, they do express interest in being trained on new skills and often prefer when this happens on the job rather than in school (58%).
Millennials Value Transparency And Stability From Their Employers More Than Older Generations Do
The generation of workers born after 1980 is more concerned with transparency, stability, and opportunities for growth with their employers than older generations.
According to a study by CareerBuilder, millennials (also known as Generation Y) want to work for socially responsible companies, offer opportunities for advancement and have transparent communication.
The survey also found that millennials value flexible hours and remote working opportunities.
The survey polled 3,100 full-time workers in the United States who had been employed at their current job for at least one year or longer.
It found that 32% of Gen Xers (born between 1965-1980) wanted to work for a socially responsible company, compared to just 24% of baby boomers (1946-1964).
Conclusion
We’ve looked at how millennials want more autonomy and control over their careers, and how the traditional workplace is failing to provide that.
One of the best ways for businesses to address this problem is by adapting their hiring practices, creating a culture based on trust and flexibility, and providing their employees with new tools.
With these changes, we can all keep our jobs without sacrificing what matters to us the most: enjoying life outside of work.
Further Reading
Will Millennials Bring an End to the Traditional Nine-to-Five Structure? Short Description: Explore how millennials are influencing the traditional work schedule and whether the nine-to-five structure will endure.
Understanding Millennial Employment Trends Short Description: Learn about the latest trends in millennial employment and how organizations are adapting to the changing workforce.
The Phenomenon of Millennial Job-Hopping Short Description: Discover why millennials tend to change jobs frequently and how businesses can engage and retain millennial employees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Millennials Put An End To Traditional Work?
Yes. Millennials are already putting an end to traditional work. The age of the boss is over, and companies that don’t adapt are going to be left behind.
Millennials just aren’t interested in working for companies that don’t give them autonomy or the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others.
They want flexibility and freedom, and they’re willing to take less pay if it means they can get it.
And they have a lot more options than previous generations did when they were entering the workforce: they can freelance, start their businesses, or work remotely from anywhere.
How Do You Know Millennials Will Put An End To Traditional Work?
We’ve seen this trend in action time and time again when young people are allowed to set their schedules and work from home, they often choose those options over traditional work environments.
If your company doesn’t offer these kinds of opportunities for its employees, then it’s likely that you’ll lose them quickly (and permanently) once they graduate from college or enter the workforce after high school graduation.
What Is A Millennial?
A Millennial is someone born between 1980 and 2000. They’re also commonly known as Generation Y and Generation Me.
But don’t let that fool you Millennials are drastically different from every other generation that came before them, and they’re changing everything about how we work at every level of society.
Why Do They Matter So Much?
Millennials have had access to technology since they were children, so their brains are wired differently than any other generation before them.
They grew up with more information at their fingertips than anyone else in history, which means they’re used to learning new things quickly and constantly updating old information with new knowledge.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.