How to Hire Each Generation
3 Min Read
The modern office is a melting pot of generations, including industry vets, experienced professionals, excited new hires, and wide-eyed interns. They span ages, from Baby Boomers to Generation Z, coming from different backgrounds that contribute to their uniqueness as employees and create particular opportunities for HR professionals, in terms of hiring and retention.
Below, we explore what’s special about each generation and how to keep them all working together productively.
Baby Boomers
Born: 1946 to 1964
Characteristic Traits: Ambitious, loyal, work-centric
Work Style: Self-reliant, practical, goal-oriented
Motivate with: New experiences to avoid stale routines
Stressed by new communication tools
Baby Boomers: 38%
Generation X: 40%
Millennials: 43%
Post-Millennials: 50%
Generation X
Born: 1965 to 1980
Characteristic Traits: Balanced, entrepreneurial, individualistic
Work Style: Independent, autonomous, meritocratic
Motivate with: Flexibility for obligations like parenthood
Optimistic about the benefits of tech
Baby Boomers: 29%
Generation X: 30%
Millennials: 30%
Post-Millennials: 11%
Generation Y (Millennials)
Born: 1981 to 1995
Characteristic Traits: Avid, hearty, searching
Work Style: Inquisitive, responsive, collaborative
Motivate with: Acknowledgement through greater responsibility
Most used method of collaboration
Baby Boomers: Meeting
Generation X: Email
Millennials: Email
Post-Millennials: Chat
Generation Z (Post-Millennials)
Born: After 1996
Characteristic Traits: Young, social, innovative
Work Style: Flexible, structured, transparent
Motivate with: Education to build careers
Least favorite method of collaboration
Baby Boomers: Screen Sharing
Generation X: Screen Sharing
Millennials: Call
Post-Millennials: Call
Who is Generation Alpha?
Generation Alpha are the children of Gen Y. There are more than 2.5 million of them born each day. They are “born to digital technology like it’s a fifth element of nature. They will be the wealthiest, the most intensely educated, and most dynamic generation that human society has yet seen.”
Key Difference Between Gen X and Baby Boomers
You’ll need to offer reward incentives to recruit and retain Gen X.
- Gen X craves prizes and rewards as a form of recognition for their superior collaboration and information skills.
- 64% of Gen X believe teams should be rewarded for success, but only 44% of Baby Boomers share this belief.
- 66% of Gen X believe individual employees should be rewarded for sharing information and collaboration, but only 43% of Baby Boomers agree.
Key Difference Between Gen X and Gen Y
There aren’t too many differences between Gen X and Gen Y. You’ll need to offer social media collaboration to recruit and retain them both.
- Between 54% and 62% of Gen X and Gen Y communicate with business partners, gather market research, and sell products via social media.
Every Generation Needs Employee Training
Employee training is the key to productivity and enhanced brand awareness.
- Between 50% and 63% of Gen Y and Baby Boomers don’t have a full understanding of their organization’s brand.
- Only 56% of Gen X have a good understanding of their organization’s brand.
Better employee training begins with better human resource management. To get the most out of each generation, start by building your knowledge and sharpening your skills in human resources. Consider earning your Bachelor’s or Master’s in Human Resource Management from Concordia University today.
Sources
- https://www.catalyst.org/
- https://www.inc.com/
- https://www.forbes.com/
- https://www.microsoft.com/
- https://aaspa.org/