Millennials: The Next Working Generation
By Kevin Volz, Media Relations Intern

Thousands of recent college grads join the workforce every spring and soon I’ll be one of them. Many of these hungry potential employees’ worst fear is spending their lives trapped in a cubicle with no room for “moving up”. These new employees are called millennials, and they have a strong desire for self-fulfillment in their careers. According to a recent survey, 57 percent of millennials say that their most important life goal is to do meaningful and challenging work.

So, how do you keep a millennial like me happy in the workplace?

First, make me feel comfortable. In fact, some of the nation’s largest companies have recently pushed to create environments that minimize stress and make their employees feel at home.

Google is a fine example of this new business model. The Google headquarters includes a recreation center, full-service restaurants and a variety of lounges. This shift in ideals has occurred to appeal to the brightest of millennial workers.

Second, let me know how I’m doing and let me know often. Millennials expect instant gratification: if I’m doing well, congratulate me; if not, guide me to the correct answer. Involvement in decision-making is also important to millennials. Younger employees want to feel like they are having a large role in the direction of their company.

As an intern at MediaSource, I have seen first-hand how awesome it can be to work in a  space with people who really exemplify this millennial way of life.

Our office space, located in a classic movie theater, is an open environment with natural lighting, as well as areas for comfy couches and relaxation.

I work alongside my manager and receive constant feedback. I know right away what she thinks of my work and can ask her any questions. The material that I work on here is used with real clients to achieve real results. I feel like I am making a positive impact at MediaSource each time I complete a new project.

Do you work with millennials at your current job, or are you a millennial in the work force? Do you agree or disagree with the information above? Is the shift to a more relaxed work atmosphere detrimental to productive output?