HOW TO LEVERAGE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF MILLENNIALS TO EFFECTIVELY ONBOARD THEM Introduce your new hires to your company’s culture. Considerations: Millennials look for the following in a company’s culture: making the world a better place, collaboration, working with more of a coach than a boss, challenging work, a flexible schedule, work-life integration, a fun environment, and a sense of community. Applications to Onboarding: Emphasize these aspects of your company in the onboarding process. For example, highlight that your company provides better products and services that are environmentally friendly and help save customers money; that employees learn via apprenticeship, so training is more collaborative; that employees can continue to learn about new technologies and techniques; that the work schedule can be flexible depending on customer needs; and that employees are encouraged to learn from and support each other in the course of work operations. TRAIN YOUR NEW HIRES Considerations: When training millennials, keep in mind that: • They have been surrounded by constant communication – whether in person, via text message, or through social media.
Development
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They appreciate structure.
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They are used to having adult role models and adults’ help in navigating the world.
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As mentioned above, they want bosses who will be their coaches and mentors.
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They are committed to learning, want to learn quickly, and will ask a lot of questions.
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They want to continue learning, even if their initial training has ended.
Applications to Onboarding: • Emphasize communication. Spell out the exact details of what the employees’ jobs entail and lay out the steps they need to take to be successful.
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Don’t assume knowledge of job requirements; aspects of a position might not be as clear-cut to millennials as to workers of different generations because these younger employees grew up at a different time. A position at your company might very well be a millennial’s first job.
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Apprenticeships will help millennials learn on the job and work with their supervisor as more of a mentor than a boss. They will be able to ask questions and absorb the training more effectively in the environment where they will actually do their jobs. Also, as
THE QSC ADVANTAGE
‘‘ I have made more progress in the growth,
professionalism and internal communications of my company in the last 13 years as a QSC member than the previous 30 years before that. I only have QSC and everyone associated
‘‘
with it to thank.
Roger Fouche Schaal Heating & Cooling Des Moines, IA
Our members say it best! Quality Service Contractors (QSC) is an elite professional association that assists plumbing, electrical and HVACR service and repair contractors. We help each member reach their potential in our increasingly demanding industry. As a member, you benefit from business management services and state-of-the-art training to enhance your image and enable you to better serve the needs of your clients.
SAVE OVER $1,000 Join QSC now, get 15 months for the price of 12 Offer ends December 31, 2015. For more information call (800) 533-7694 or e-mail wallace@naphcc.org [ 18 ]
Maryland PHCC Contractor | Fall 2015