Before a recent campus speaking engagement I had the privilege of viewing a classroom presentation given by a group of college juniors and seniors. The presentation topic was, "What to expect when entering the workforce." With a background in management working in leadership positions for the past 9 years it was quite interesting for me to hear the students present their findings.
Most of what was said during the presentation matched up quite well with how life is in the professional world. However there were two points that were made that left me intrigued. First, the group of presenting Millennials concluded that all first years on the job involve "grunt work" and they should expect remedial tasks that underutilize their skill sets upon graduation. Even more interesting the group set a goal of staying with their first employer at least 6 months to a year prior to moving on as it could look bad on a resume. I have some thoughts on each of these two points below.
On the topic of all grads being thrown into jobs that underutilize their skills I have to disagree. Sure, most entry level jobs come with tasks that may seem remedial but they are still critical to the role. There is also a lot of training and learning that takes place once a college grad enters their new job. Some, if not most, of this training is straight forward and could seem boring or remedial to new professionals. Beyond this, being underutilized is only a matter of perception. If a project or a task tends to underutilize your skillset, put more of your skills into it. Going above and beyond on a project or a task is a good way to impress your new organization and boss. It also will leave you feeling better utilized. A word of advice for Millenials new on the job- think of a work assignment or project as defined by your boss as less of a specific request and more of a blank slate. Be creative and don't be afraid to add more elements than required or go beyond the task defined. You might be surprised at how well received your efforts are.
Now for the topic of staying 6 months to one year on the job at your first employer. I hope this comment made in the group presentation is only a sample but I have reason to believe it is not. Millennials have a reputation for job hopping. A 2012 Forbes article stated 91% of Millenials plan to leave their job after only 3 years. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeannemeister/2012/08/14/job-hopping-is-the-new-normal-for-millennials-three-ways-to-prevent-a-human-resource-nightmare/ This reputation scares recruiters and HR professionals as they struggle to figure out how to attract and retain Millennial talent. My advice for students and Millennial leaders is to expect to stay at a job for longer than a year. Three years may not even be enough time to become proficient or receive a promotion based on the company. Raising expectations for the amount of years you will stay at a job will help you be more selective during the job seeking process and hopefully result in a longer tenure at your first employer.
What are your thoughts on the perception of being under-utilized in the workforce? What amount of time you should spend at a job before leaving?
Find out more about me at www.rehbergcareers.com
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