According to Pew Research Center, people who are considered as Millennials were born between 1981 to 1996. People from Generation Z – or Gen Z – were born from 1997 to early 2010s. Currently, they are the latest generations to join the workplace. As of 2020, Millennials make up around 35% of the global workforce. This is projected to rise as high as 75% by the year 2025. Gen Zs that are now looking for jobs or have just started their employment will soon make up 27% of workers worldwide by 2025.

It was also noted that these are the generations who will most likely shift to another job. According to Microsoft 2022 Work Trend Index, a total of 52% of Millennial and Gen Z respondents will consider changing employers. Compared to older generations, Millennials and Gen Zs aren’t earning as much. This drives them to find higher-paying jobs. Both generations are also the most technologically savvy. As such, they are more open to exploring remote work opportunities. A Gallup study has also noted a lack of employee engagement among Millennials and Gen Zs as well.

Despite this, these two influential generations can offer fresh perspectives that can help future-proof your business. Companies would do well to employ strategies that will not only attract Millennials and Gen Zs but also help them stay engaged to address retention and attrition issues. Here are recommendations on how to encourage Millennial and Gen Z applicants to join your organisation.

1. Strengthen your branding

Millennial and Gen Z job seekers are digital denizens. They will seek information first from online resources. Ensure that you have a strong digital presence as they will look for you in various platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn). Keep your social media and company website updated. Provide them with information that’s engaging enough for them to consider applying at your company. Make sure that what you share online is aligned with your employer branding. Authenticity is important to them so earn their trust with consistent content. Use every opportunity to help them visualise how it would feel to work in your organisation.

2. Hype up positive reviews and testimonials

Millennials and Gen Zs will turn to reviews which can greatly influence their decision-making process. Support your branding with real testimonials from your own staff. You can feature a range of reviews from long-time employees and newly hired ones. This will give job hunters more perspectives that will help address their concerns and to guide them in their decision to proceed with their application. Don’t ever create fake reviews or testimonials as this will damage your company’s reputation. Millennials and Gen Zs are tech-savvy when it comes to researching so they’ll know if you’re telling the truth.

3. Maintain a company culture that’s aligned with their values

Among generations, Millennials and Gen Zs have the most diverse members. They are passionate in supporting social causes with global impact. That’s why they are more attracted to organisations who support and practise values that are important to them. For example, companies that have progressive and clear policies on diversity and inclusivity appeal to these groups. But make sure that your policies aren’t just lip service. Back it up with facts that can be reflected with images and testimonials of your diverse staff on your website.

4. Ensure a supportive working environment

To clarify, this does not mean you should treat Millennials and Gen Zs with kid gloves. But they will feel more engaged when they can see that the company supports them in their career journey. Learning and development training are attractive bonuses for them. Giving well-deserved recognition for going beyond expectations will keep them motivated at work. Offering flexible work arrangements when needed can help them to manage their stress and maintain work-life balance. Physical and mental health programs that were established at the height of the pandemic should continue to be implemented. These are great benefits that Millennials and Gen Zs will watch out for.

5. Respond as promptly as possible

For 43% of Millennials, receiving a prompt follow-up after every interview contributes to a positive job application experience. Make sure that your HR will provide candidates with immediate feedback. They’ll lose interest when there’s a long delay in the application process. Not only that, this can hurt your company’s reputation. Millennials and Gen Zs will avoid doing future business with companies where they had a bad experience as applicants.

6. Provide incentives for your current staff in recruiting new members

You can reach out further to Millennials and Gen Zs by widening your talent search through your current staff’s networks. Establish an employee referral program that will encourage your staff to refer someone they know who would like to work for your organisation. Provide an incentive system to further motivate them. This is a win-win situation for both your existing and future employees.

7. Establish partnerships with colleges and universities

Consider coordinating with educational institutions for internship or apprenticeship programs. This can be a great platform to eventually recruit the most qualified candidates from the Gen Z sector.

The Talent Consultants: a Vietnam recruitment agency

If you need assistance in attracting top-level talent among the Millennials and Gen Zs, The Talent Consultants can help you. As a premier headhunting company in Vietnam, we provide expert workforce management and talent acquisition sourcing from our Ho Chi Minh office.

For hiring managers, you’ll have access to a rich pool of talent from across Southeast Asia who are highly qualified to work for multinational businesses. If you would like more information on how to manage your remote staff, check our remote workers toolkit for your reference. Learn how to implement an effective mental well-being program by downloading our guide here.

Book your free consultation here or call on +84 28 7309 7991 for more details about our trusted recruitment services. If you’re a job seeker, visit our job vacancies page and find exciting employment opportunities that will perfectly match your qualifications.