Millennials, also known as Generation Y, were born after 1980, grew up during the technology wave and the subsequent digital revolution and their use of technology is at a far higher rate than any generation before them.
The birth of social media, an explosion of hyper-visual content and the rise of the individual earmark this era of digital disruption. These factors have not only affected how this age group views a career path, but how its members search for and find jobs.
"We find that members of this generation don't necessarily want to engage with recruiters over the phone but want to access information about prospective jobs quickly and effortlessly from their mobile devices. They are frustrated when they can't find what they are looking for within a few clicks," says Angelique Robbertse, Product and Marketing Manager for Job Mail.
To accommodate the wants of Millennials, online career portals have had to evolve their offering to include notifications of jobs that are available via email and SMS. Such alerts are a fast and easy way to notify job seekers of jobs available in their specified industry.
Mobile is a key channel to reach this peer group, but mobility also defines them in terms of their fluid career period. Sometimes referred to as 'slashies', members of this age bracket are not defined by a single career and often move into a completely different job after only a couple of years.
"We refer to them as techno hippies as they are so flexible and consume information on the go. Mobile alerts on potential career opportunities suit them perfectly as they want to try it all and are frequently on the lookout for new possibilities."
Another trait of Millennials is that they have complete access to education and knowledge, thanks to the internet. This wealth of information at their disposal means that this demographic is on a continuous learning path where they learn, unlearn and relearn.
"Their appetite for knowledge means that that they're keen to improve themselves and better their job seeking, application and interviewing skills. This is one of the reasons why we've developed comprehensive e-books to aid a younger generation of job seekers with the process of applying for a job."
Living and seeking a career in a connected world does not necessarily mean that job seekers or those currently employed are aware of the pitfalls of broadcasting their opinions on social media platforms or that they know how to use these platforms to their advantage.
Members of Generation Y make their opinions count in cyberspace and they have a strong value system and are willing to fight for their beliefs, even in a work environment.
"Our e-books have detailed sections on how job seekers can use social media platforms to their advantage and how they need to moderate their social profiles in anticipation of an interview and future employment."
Handling Millennials
For more information, see the Job Mail Jobseeker's Guide to Finding a Job in South Africa e-books - comprehensive guides to aid job seekers with the process of applying for a job.
