Don’t underestimate the numbers, people – millennials are the biggest human demographic on the earth.
There’s a lot of information out there regarding the common traits associated with millennials, but we wanted to take a look at one in particular – how they work.
As research states, one of the main millennial characteristics is that they do not like holding down traditional 9 to 5 jobs. About 60% of millennials are now open to a new job opportunity and are by far the most likely generation to switch jobs. The reasons are varied, but what are they? Let’s find out why they want to work in startups.
1. They Follow Their Passion
Millennials like to do what they love. They are willing to put in the hard work to build a business from scratch, as long as what they do is really their passion. Passion and drive come hand in hand, so if you’re doing what you love to do each and every day, you’re more likely to find the energy it takes to make it work. It might be an age-old adage, but even younger millennials follow the mantra of ‘Do what you love, love what you do’.
2. They Focus On Making Money
Who does not want to earn big bucks? Like generations before them, money is also a major focus for millennials. But unlike previous generations, there is a more pronounced need for instant gratification. Building a career in the traditional sense can take years, even decades, so millennials are more willing to try alternatives if they are more likely to result in money without the wait.
One such avenue is through freelance opportunities. Millennials can opt out from an office job and effectively become their own boss, and in doing so also opt out from a fixed monthly salary and open themselves up to a variety of income sources.
3. They Crave Flexibility
More so than other generations, Millennials like to explore and experience new things. This means that more rigid corporate environments aren’t always the best place for them to thrive. New challenges are ever-present in startups and as a result, these dynamic environments tend to give this generation a stage on which they can shine through hard work and rapid learning
4. High Curiosity
As explained above, millennials like to explore and learn. This goes hand in hand with their overall curiosity. Again, the startup environment is perfect for satisfying this curiosity as in many ways startups are about creating something completely new and constantly asking yourself, “What if we did things differently?” in order to challenge the status quo.
5. They Question Tradition
The sometimes overbearing rules of a corporate environment can be too much. Being bound to dressing a certain way or even working certain hours is increasingly being questioned as a contributor to success. As long as your work is delivered on time, why shouldn’t you be able to choose your hours?
Startups tend to do away with these traditions, and in many cases, employees can even work from home. Not to mention, the dress code tends to be a little less formal. After all, as long as the work gets finished, what’s the problem?
Do you agree? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.