Customization!
That was a big buzzword with baby boomers and Gen Xers. It was about making someone’s experience customized, but now it’s not so much about customization, but personalization. Especially when it comes to the millennial generation. Engage millennials with personalization!
Millennials, people born after 1980. They are currently the largest generational section of the workforce today.
What does ‘Personalization’ mean?
Hiring or managing millennials?
Make the engagement personal and customized.
When it comes to you and connecting with the Millennial Generation, well what was previously impossible or financially not doable. Through technology, it can be done and the Millennials have embraced this.
We don’t call them “the selfie generation” for nothing. They’re able to put their image, their thoughts and their feelings on anything. They personalize the cars they drive, the clothes they wear, the phones they carry.
The more that you engage this generation through personalization, the stronger your connection.
Engage millennials with personalization!
How to Personalized a Job Application to Millenials
There’s a clothing store in Saugatuck Michigan – it’s a terrific place.
I was lucky enough to meet the owner and he shared with me his job application. I thought we’ve all seen a job application. Most of us could fill one out in our sleep. But what David did with his job application, was something I have never seen!
The job application starts out like this:
“Howdy! Thank you for considering joining the talented and fun crew at land sharks. This is our fancy job application for every job opening. About fifty-five people who complete this quiz, have a less than 2% chance of becoming a shark.”
That’s what he calls the people that work at his store – sharks.
“We understand this may not be worth your time, but if you’re interested in meeting and working with some really fun and talented people, please answer the questions below. Preferably honestly!”
Engage Millennials with Personalization
What’s so beautiful about this job application is that he has taken something so mundane, something so ordinary, and he’s personalized it. And not only does it represent the personality of his store, but it engages the millennial employee to bring their own personality to the interview process.
Here are a few of the questions on that job application:
- How many of your friends are getting married this summer?
- And how many weddings do anticipate standing in?
When I asked him about this question, he explained to me that people in their 20’s often have friends getting married. If they’re standing in the wedding, they want Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off. Those are his busiest times in business.
- What is your favorite book and why?
I asked him about this question. He said, “well, for one thing, I’m a voracious reader. I’d like to know what other people are reading,” he said “but also I feel that people that read, tend to bring a different personality element to the store”
And like one of my favorite questions on the application:
- Are you really good at anything? Please explain…either way.
I really like how he’s changed some of those mundane, standard questions that people get asked in the interview and he’s personalized it.
Learn from this example to engage millennials with personalization.
The Millennial Generation
They are the fastest-growing generation in the workforce and the marketplace today. The more we engage this generation with personalization, the more we connect and then we succeed.
I look forward to seeing you next week.
We will discuss this incredible millennial generation and what they bring to the workforce and how you can connect with them successfully.