Friday, December 12, 2008

Engaging Generation Y in the Workplace

By Alison K. Mitchelson

If your business is searching for new and talented employees in Sydney, one challenge you'll need to meet is to create a workplace which is capable of engaging members of Generation Y. This is a generation which has grown up with technology and thinks a bit differently than do the those from previous generations. With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, now is the time to recruit these young and dynamic workers into your business.

When looking to attract these dynamic people to your business there are a number of things that are important to keep in mind. Hiring the right people is vital to the growth and success of any business. Equally important however is ensuring that these people are working in an engaging, satisfying workplace and will thus choose to remain in the job for a number of years.

Making your workplace one which will engage members of Generation Y involves having an understanding of the psychology of this young and dynamic group. This is a generation which has grown up with the constant presence of the internet. These are people who use social networking and are very interested in information and using the web to conduct research on their own. Generation Y is made up of skilled problem solvers who are used to thinking outside of the box and have a reverence for new technology.

When looking to draw Generation Y employees to your business and keep them there, you one thing that you need to expect is that they will not be invested in devoting their lives to the company.

The members of this generation place equal weight on job loyalty and maintaining a high quality of life. They will not be happy with a job which asks them to give their all without giving them what they see as an appropriate compensation for this. They also have very little patience with micromanagement, being used to working independently and managing their time themselves.

Sydney companies have to know that Generation Y members will be very interested in a workplace which allows them to dress casually. If their job does not entail contact with clients they reason that it is therefore unnecessary to dress uncomfortably for work. Offering a casual environment will go a long way towards attracting and retaining Generation Y staff.

With more and more members of Generation Y entering the work place every year, it is essential that professionals looking to hire them have a strong understanding of what their needs are and how these differ from those of previous generations.

Especially in Sydney, companies have to understand the particular needs and sensibilities of Generation Y. Before hiring new staff, take some time to learn a bit more about these newcomers to the workforce. The best way is to speak with someone who has already managed to create a work environment in which members of Generation Y are successfully engaged. - 15359

About the Author: