Today, the Millennials are the white whale for many recruiters. Everyone is after them, but many are having trouble figuring out how to recruit them. To make it easier for you, we bring you “The recipe for recruiting millennials” that will highlight the main points you should focus on when recruiting them. Let’s get started! Here are the main ingredients:

1. Understand what drives them

Millennials have totally different beliefs and values compared to any other generation before them. To know how to catch them, you need to understand them.

First of all, be aware, millennials are needy. Recognition by others and having a purpose are crucial factors that fulfill them. Taking this into account, during the interview, you should explain how their potential position is important and what difference they would make to the whole company. Make them see the bigger picture in which they can contribute. Don’t forget, they like to feel part of the team, so use this information wisely. Secondly, they don’t crave money, they crave wealth. For generation X, money is equal to happiness and today that equation is more complex. Money without the opportunity to enjoy it has no value to them. Communicate the importance of work-life balance for your company which will give you extra points, highlight all the volunteer and charity work the company supports, and all the fitness and health-related programs that are provided to the employees. Don’t underestimate the power of these benefits. For millennials, their employer is the reflection of their beliefs and what they stand for.

2. Don’t mix too many ingredients

Unless you’ve been living under the rock, which we doubt, it is well known that mobile is a big deal. But, maybe you don’t realize that 90% of millennials search for jobs on a phone and yet only half of jobs applications are user-friendly. Don’t make the same mistake. Whether we are talking about company website, job board sites or Social Media pages, make the information visible and experience user-friendly for mobile users. Even though it is crucial, mobile visibility is not enough. Millennials truly know the value of time and they find it precious. Forget about long application forms with unnecessary questions that they already deliver in their attached CVs and cover letters because even when they are extremely interested, if the process is too complicated or too long, millennials will just drop-off. Put yourself in their shoes and make the appropriate adjustments to your hiring process in order to attract top talent.

3. Make communication your main ingredient

When you see millennials spending all that time on their phones, it may seem that Communication lost its power. The truth is totally opposite. Communication has never been more powerful and more important, it just has new channels of transmission. Fit inside! To overcome the gap between the new and the old, you need to build a bridge. Video merges two worlds – the world of old-fashioned, but effective face-to-face communication, and the world of new technologies. Use it to humanize the company and to show the people behind the logo. Press record and say your applicants’ name to invite them to the interview. That will make you stand out and immediately connect on another level. Research has shown that for 92% of millennials the #1 frustrating thing is when they don’t hear back from the employer after submitting their application. Of course, some candidates are not the right fit for you and your company, but be smart and create bonds. You never know what life brings. Maybe they are your customers or your future employees. Take a few minutes out of your day and record a thank you video for the applicants that weren’t the best fit for you.  

4. Be prepared to be interviewed

Whether we are talking about shopping or a job application, millennials do their homework. Researching about the company and position is a step they make even before applying for the job. With the rising power of the word-of-mouse, the communication is no longer a one-way street. As they are used to sharing personal information on social networks, be prepared that they will share details about a job interview as well. In just a few clicks they can find out the most frequently asked questions or the salary range, which increases their negotiation power. Companies are under rising pressure to ensure positive business image and reputation which is no longer a short-term assignment. To stay competitive on the battlefield of attracting the best people of this generation, you have to understand that this is the generation that watched the world’s economy collapse in late 2000’s. That is why they are searching for transparency and truth, so don’t withhold it from them. Prove them that your company is ready for open and transparent relationships and show them that these are the values you cherish. Use your website and social media to provide them all the necessary information. Be open about the problems and the big picture items that could contribute to if working for you. Remember, trust can only be a two-way street.

Watch a video example of an interview with a millennial from LA Real House:

Yours sincerely,

A Millennial