Millennials are increasingly becoming a force in the modern workplace. This year, they will comprise the largest generation of employees in American history; their influence will shape how businesses operate and succeed for decades to come. Yet, many companies struggle with bringing in and keeping millennials. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 53 percent of hiring managers say it is difficult to hire and retain this newest generation of workers, with only 14 percent thinking it’s easy.
How can companies connect with millennials to better ensure these young workers become valued, potentially long-term employees? Corporate training materials may be the answer. Studies have shown that better-trained employees are more invested in their jobs and are more productive. The challenge for organizations is to adapt seemingly tried-and-true training strategies to the current generation, which, more often than not, is turned off by methods that worked just fine for baby boomers and Gen-Xers. Here are four ways corporate training materials can appeal to millennials:
1. Today’s technology
Printed corporate training materials—three-ring binders filled with printed pages or bound volumes that rival a phonebook in size (not that many millennials know what a phonebook is …)—are an instant turnoff for many of this new generation’s employees. Today’s younger workers are accustomed to studying, researching, and communicating with modern technology; put a few hundred pages of training processes in front of them and they will feel like they are back in high school. Subsequently, they won’t learn the content as well and be ready to bolt when a better opportunity comes along. Innovative, tablet-based training platforms are available that are far more attractive to millennials, who mostly already know how to use an iPad or Surface and will more readily embrace corporate training materials on these devices.
2. Convenient options
Millennials like the convenience afforded by tablets and smartphones. When corporate training materials are made accessible on these devices, employees can view documents and videos whenever and wherever it’s easiest for them. For example, those dreary hours of new hires’ first few days training in a back room decrease the odds they will hit the floor enthusiastic about their new jobs. If millennials can access training before their start dates, they will be ahead of the game the moment they put on their name tags.
3. Video training
Research has shown that people retain something they viewed in a video better—much better—than if they tried absorbing the same content in printed form. Millennials are the generation that made YouTube a success and practically created the concept of the viral video. Combine these two realities into corporate training materials and you get a learning medium that appeals to younger employees and is also more effective, both immediately and in the long term.
4. Collaboration capabilities
One of the traits that defines millennials in the workplace is their desire to be part of the process and not just a drone who is the target of barked orders with an expectation of following along or else. Though some see this as a weakness of the younger generation of workers, it actually is a strength—employees whose opinions are valued tend to deliver increased productivity and might be not as quick to leave for another company. Tablet-based corporate training materials that incorporate dynamic collaboration capabilities allow employees to immediately ask questions and provide input. This approach brings millennials into the company’s overall strategy and invests them more in the organization’s success.
What challenges have you faced hiring and retaining millennials?
