What are the Top Priorities for Millennial Candidates?

The job market is evolving rapidly, and millennials, who make up approximately 35% of the UK workforce are driving these changes. Their desires and priorities go beyond the traditional job offer, focusing on a blend of growth, company culture and alignment with their personal values and beliefs.

Here are the top priorities that millennials highly value when completing a job search:

1) Career Development Opportunities

Millennial professionals regard their future career progression as the top priority. A recent survey established 91% of these professionals considering it a key criterion when searching for their next career move.

This includes study support packages and training workshops so they can upskill and attain professional qualifications such as their ACA or ACCA. In line with this, a pathway of career progression is vitally as important, so they can expand their remit and gain greater responsibilities. A business that invests in their employee’s will gain not only loyalty, but also a highly skilled and motivated team and become attractive to candidates. To demonstrate this point, 53% of millennials that have been disappointed by lack of career development would actively seek a new career move.

2) Work-life balance

In the fast-paced accountancy world, deadlines and long hours can often be the norm. However, millennials are challenging the status quo when it comes to hybrid working from home and flexible working hours.

For millennials, work is not about clocking in and out, it is about the harmony between work and life. The ability to manage their time around personal commitment and day to day activities is highly valued. Firms that are in a position demonstrate their adaptability and concern for employees bring a level of trust and respect from the team.

3) Company Culture

Millennials seek more than just a pay check, they take pride in their workplace and enjoy a collaborative and connected working environment. They seek a workplace that reflects their personal and professional values.

Firms that prioritize inclusivity and diversity foster and co-operative working culture. This can include initiatives such as environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and local communities like charities. Highlighting the businesses values contributes to a meaningful outcome which demonstrates the companies’ mission and beliefs.

4) Technology & Innovation

Being digital natives, millennials expect employers to be tech-savvy and innovative with their processes and procedures. Business that lead the way and embrace new ways of working showcase their prepared to change and are willing to work smarter and preach best practices.

These can include digital tools and automation. AI a hot topic amongst most business recently and utilising how it can benefit business practices. The firms that aren’t exploring this and continue to operate with outdated systems and processes are losing out on attracting the best talent. Millennials that are provided the opportunity to make an impact and support on projects that integrate new technologies and accounting practices are said to be more engaged.

5) Purpose and Impact of Responsibilities

As just referred to, millennials thrive in roles where they can make a real difference and are listened to. They are motivated by the idea of contributing to something meaningful and making a positive impact, whether that be society, efficiencies or projects.

For example, junior accountants are drawn to commercial opportunities where they can contribute beyond traditional compliance roles and like to feel they are influencing strategic decisions. From a millennial’s perspective, they like to know they are performing and are constantly seeking way to improve, often this is via feedback from their line manager. It is believed over 60% of millennials like re-assurance.

Concluding thoughts…

Attracting millennials candidates requires more than offering a competitive salary. Companies must promote and demonstrate their flexibility, growth portal and mission statements with this aspiring generation. This all forms a part of the Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

With millennials being the future of the workforce, ensuring the business has an EVP which aligns to the desires and needs of millennials will go a long way in retaining talent and building up a highly committed, motivated and loyal workforce.