What Employers Want From Millennials

What Employers Want From Millennials Millennials often enter the workforce at a disadvantage. Executives ofprevious generations sometimes perceive them as entitled or lazy because of their insistence on work/life balance, their penchant for coming at problems in non-traditional ways, or their optimistic expectations about climbing the corporate ladder. But the fact is millennials are the largest generation in the U.S. workforce, which means the corporate world will need to adapt to the younger generation just as much as the younger generation must adapt to the corporate world.Millennials make up more than one-third of the U.S. workforce, and many of these workers will be tomorrows corporate leaders. Millennials seeking to fast track their way to the top need to possess a particular set of skills to impress existing executives.A Soft ApproachWhether fresh out of college or a junior executive, any millennial who wants to sit at the boardroom table somed ay needs to have a number of marketable soft skills.Examples of soft skills include strong work ethic, confidence, communication skills, interpersonal skills, adaptability, next-level thinking, and ability to take initiative, says Rae Sanders, principal staffing manager and gruppe leader of the accounting, finance, and administrative division of recruitment firm WinterWyman.Millennials grew up texting and talking online, and that means some of them dont have the same personal interaction skills that Gen. X-ers and baby boomersdeveloped. This difference in relationship styles can turn off older decision-makers from hiring millennial candidates.Candidates should make an effort to showcase their soft skill sets leading up to and during theinterview. Exude confidence without being cocky. Feature communication skills in all modes, whether it be email, phone, or face-to-face conversation. Other soft skills can be more difficult to showcase, but providing references that speak to things li ke innovation and work ethic can go a long way toward signing on with a company.The Hard SellOf course, being personable and confident only gets one so far. Soft skills will get the attention of a prospective employer, but hard skills are even more important. Most millennials grew up with technology that escapes the understanding of some older executives, so many companies are interested in hiring workers who can carry them into the Digital Age. That also makes competition for jobs fiercer, because generally, most applicants will be tech-savvy and capable.Millennials who want to stand out from the crowd will need to find ways to get practical experience prior to entering the workforce.The training and skills that candidates should seek are dependent on the jobs they are applying to, says Callie Adams, staffing manager for WinterWyman. However, the hard skills you gain in an internship relevant to the career track you are trying to pursue are what makes you stand out. These could be applied technical skills different from learned technical skills or functional skills, such as actually processing accounts payable or arranging travel. Application of the skills youve learned is paramount in todays market. Simply put, internships are the only way to develop a hard skill set to make you stand out amongst your peers.When hiring managers make a final decision about a hire, it comes down to what experience the candidate brings to the table and what they can bring to the company.Experience that exemplifies the soft skill sets aforementioned, would be considered valuable to prospective employers, Sanders says.For example, Sanders lists the following common experiences as ways millennials can demonstrate their soft skill setsLeadership positions in clubs (confidence, ability to take initiative, and communication skills)Varied extracurricular activities along with a strong academic record (work ethic)Study abroad programs (adaptability)Internships/work-study (applied har d skills)Fraternities/sororities (interpersonal skills)These types of activities show you have taken advantage of what college had to offer, Sanders says. This is what would make you stand out as a potential candidate when the job may initially require a year or two of experience.To be attractive to a company, younger generations must leveragetheir lives beyond work and show hiring managers how their experiences have prepared them to do the job they are applying for. Many applicants will just put their degree on the application and leave it at that. Candidates who find ways to turnlife experiences into work experiences will stand out from the crowd.

Guidelines for What to Include in a Resume

Guidelines for What to Include in a ResumeGuidelines for What to Include in a ResumeWhen you are writing a resume, there are a number of resume formats you can choose, including chronological, functional, and targeted resumes. However, regardless of the format of resume you select, there are certain guidelines that most resumes should follow.Heres information on what to include in your resume, as well as what shouldnt be listed on your resume. There are also guidelines for resume length, font and page marginsYour resume should be as concise as possible two pages is the maximum length, but one page is preferable. Heres more about resume length and how long your resume should be. If you need to get your resume on a single page, heres how to tighten it up and gain extra space.Font and SizeDo not use ornate fonts that are difficult to read. Times New Roman, Arial, Calibri, or a similar font is best. Your font size should be between 10 and 12 points although your name and the section head ings can be a little larger and/or bold. Heres how to select a font for your resume.Page MarginsThe standard page margins in word processing programs (1 margins on the top, bottom and left and right sides of the page) work for most resumes. However, if you need to tighten the margins to reduce the length of your resume, its fine to reduce the margins to a 1/2 on the sides and top and bottom.LayoutHowever, you decide to organize the sections of your resume, be aya to keep each section uniform. For example, if you put the name of one company in italics, every company name must be in italics. If you bold one job title, bold them all.Information to AvoidDo not include personal information such as birthday, height, weight, marital status, children, etc., unless the position requires it.AccuracyBe sure to edit your resume before sending it. Check spelling, grammar, tenses, names of companies and people, etc. Have a friend or career services counselor check over your resume as well. Use th is proofreading checklist to make sure your resume is perfect.Heres some information that you should be sure to include on your resumeIdentificationInclude your name, address, telephone number, and email address in the identification section at the top of your resume, or consider one of these other options for addressing your resume.Use a professional email address (i.e., johnsmithgmail.com rather than soccerloverhotmail.com).ObjectiveThis section is nach eigenem belieben. If you decide to include a resume objective, keep it concise and specific state your desired job or field, and what you hope to accomplish in that field.ProfileAnother optional section is a resume profile which includes a summary of your skills, experiences, and goals written specifically for a job posting.EducationHeres more information on what to include and how to format a resume education section.Include the degrees you have received in reverse chronological order (with the most recent degree listed first).Be sure to include the name of each institution, its location, and your date of graduation (or expected date of graduation).When applicable, include your major/minor fields, as well as your GPA and any honors, publications, and projects.Unless you are a current high school student, do not include your high school degree.ExperienceHere is more information on the experience section of a resume, including what to list, and how to format it.Include your work experience in reverse chronological order (with the most recent degree listed first).This section can include jobs, internships, and volunteer work. High school students might also include clubs and sports teams when applicable.Include the name of the company, the position, and dates of employment.List roughly three important tasks, accomplishments, or skills gained at each job. Use action verbs to describe your achievements avoid passive phrases such as responsible for and duties include.Skills (Optional)Heres information on the skill s section of a resume.Include any computer systems with which you are proficient, particularly if they are related to the position for which you are applying.Include foreign languages with which you are familiar state both the language and your level of familiarity (beginning, intermediate, proficient, fluent).List any other skills you have that relate to the job but are not included elsewhere in your resume.Volunteer Work (Optional)You can include a volunteer experience section to convey your leadership, communication skills, etc. List the name of the organization, the dates of your volunteer work, and your achievements.Hobbies and Interests (Optional)You can also include a section on your hobbies and interests if they relate to the position. For example, if you are applying to work at a sporting goods store, you can include your passion for basketball.