Are You Making These Mistakes When Interviewing Millennials?

Millennials make up a unique percentage of the work force. Hiring them can help breathe new life into a company, but the interview process must be done carefully. Millennials think and operate differently than other generations of workers. When you’re interviewing millennials and looking to bring some into your organization, here’s what you need to keep in mind:

Focus on company culture and finding the right fit

Like any other employees, millennials want to be paid fairly for the work that they do. However, this group is also heavily focused on actually enjoying the time they spend in the office. For this reason, checking to make sure that the person you’re interviewing is a good fit becomes key. Talk with them about their goals and the company experiences they’ve enjoyed and disliked in the past. From there, you can get a better sense of how they might fit in within your organization. Asking these questions in an open-ended way gives the candidate a chance to elaborate in order to provide you with more information.

Understand that there are stereotypes involved

There are a number of stereotypes surrounding the millennial generation, including that they don’t work hard. Many people who are a part of this generation feel sensitive to these stereotypes. As a result, they may be especially anxious to show you that they’re ready to come in and put in the time necessary to do the job well. Ask questions that allow them to demonstrate their work ethic and passion for their industry.

Talk about the benefits you offer

For many millennials, mentoring programs and a chance to grow are important. If your company has a particularly strong mentorship program in place or is great about advancing employees through the ranks, make this known. Young workers want to know that they’re joining a team where they can develop, not just sit in the same cubicle for 20 years.

Lastly, give a millennial candidate a chance to ask their fair share of questions. Because millennials are passionate about finding a job that’s a great fit, it’s likely that the person you’re interviewing will want to do a little research of their own in order to ensure that they feel comfortable in the role. Build in some time for this so that both parties can feel totally satisfied should a job offer be made.

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