The infamous traits of the Millennial generation have been studied, discussed and debated far and wide: they’re always connected, they’re ambitious, they’re approval-oriented and more. In this series of blog posts, “Millennials at Work,” I’m diving into each of these stereotypes and discussing how they impact this generation and those of us who work with them.
Watching news, sports and history happen across the globe has been a natural part of Millennials’ everyday lives since childhood. And while I had a single pen pal in Denmark in the ‘90s, today’s teenagers have hundreds of global friends through their various social networks. As a result of this international influence, Gen Ys are often called the “First Globals.” They are most likely to be culturally sensitive, view the world as their community and embrace opportunities to live and work abroad.
Gen Y’s changing definitions of “home”
Opportunities to live and work abroad have never been as plentiful, and Millennials have taken note. In a 2013 poll, more than one-third of this generation believed it was likely that they would call the capital of a foreign country “home” in their lifetime. More than half also reported that fluency in a foreign language was important.
But Millennials aren’t just interested in learning languages and living abroad: they do it, too, in record numbers. The Institute of International Education’s 2013 Open Doors Report on International Educational Exchange found all-time highs in numbers of college and university students studying outside of their home countries. More than 800,000 international students were studying at U.S. institutions and more than 283,000 U.S. students were studying abroad.
In the workplace, Millennials are likely to be most excited about opportunities to visit offices abroad, work with international clients and collaborate with employees from different countries. If you’re an employer, consider offering such short-term opportunities to your Gen Y employees or talking about your international exposure in your recruiting initiatives for this generation.
International awareness fuels the Millennial sense of duty
Another often-discussed characteristic of Gen Y is their propensity to give back. Being globally minded is no doubt playing a part in this generational trend. Seeing and experiencing the interconnectedness of economies, governments and societies has fed this Millennial sense of duty. In the 2013 poll cited above, more than two-thirds of Millennials reported that it is important that their workplace “provide opportunities to make a difference in their world.” I’ve certainly seen this in my role as chair of the board of She’s the First, a nonprofit that empowers Millennials to sponsor girls’ education in the developing world.
At work, it’s important to help Gen Ys understand the bottom line – and not just the financial bottom line. Millennials believe success is about more than just profit and they genuinely want to impact the world. What is your organization’s role in the world? Why does your organization do what it does? When and where possible, connect your work to the bigger picture and involve your young employees in defining the mission or values of your organization.
What is your take on Gen Y and the global mindset?
