What millennials want from a job

The Robert Walters Employee Insights Survey asked professionals from Generation Y (those born between 1980 and 1994) what matters most to them in their professional lives.

The two biggest factors that lead to job satisfaction, according to our survey results, are the chance to tackle challenges and a good work/life balance.

The factor most likely to make a millennial leave a job is lack of career progression.

Gen Y-ers have been raised to believe they can achieve anything, and they’re motivated by possibility and professional confidence. At the same time, they recognise the importance of keeping a healthy lifestyle and balancing personal and social priorities with professional ones.

So when it comes to Gen Y professionals, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. More than any generation before them, millennials are motivated by concrete rewards. They’re ambitious and they want to see the results of their hard work, whether it be the success of a project or a personal promotion.
   
   
2. Millennials need their jobs to mean something. Unlike the prototypical clock-punchers of the last century, who were satisfied by merely putting in their time from 9 to 5, the Gen Y workforce looks for a higher purpose in their work. They’re driven by opportunities to provide community service, help people in need, invent new things and generally make their mark on the world. Providing them with meaningful projects inspires them to work hard.
   
   
3. They expect freedom. And unlike their parents’ generation, millennials don’t necessarily expect to be held accountable for their every move during set-in-stone work hours. They like flexibility and freedom, the option to work from home at least some of the time and the expectation that getting the job done is more important than being “clocked in.” In other words, they want trust and respect.
   
   
4. Millennials are social. More specifically, they are on various social media platforms and spend a considerable amount of time online each day. For this reason, it is imperative to make sure you have a solid online presence. Just as a company should accurately represent its brand in all elements of their online and social media campaigns, a savvy millennial will appropriately manage his or her personal brand. 
   
   
5. Gen Y likes praise. While they respond well to tangible rewards like promotions, raises and perks, they also shine when given verbal acknowledgement and public recognition. They want to be recognized for their hard work.