Smart leaders are slow to hire and employ only the very best personnel. So when hiring millennials, you and I should only want to hire the best as well.
Using each letter of the word EXCELLENCE, The following are 10 Qualities I Look For When Hiring Millennials:
- Emotional and Spiritual Health and Maturity – I’m looking first and foremost for someone wise beyond their years. What I really admire and respect in a millennial is a respect and understanding for the value of hard work. They arrive to work on-time or early. They put in eight-hours-work for eight-hours-pay. Quite simply, they are an adult.
- X-Factor – I describe this as charisma. There is just something that draws people to them. They are a person of influence. People seem to really like them. Others walk away feeling better for being in their presence.
- Caring – Where the X-Factor is people liking the millennial, caring is the millennial liking people. What I am looking for is a young person who cares about and respects multiple generations. If they do not view people over the age of 40 as outdated and non-creative, they are especially valuable.
- Energy and Enthusiasm – The most valuable quality any leader can bring to an organization is energy. I’m looking for someone who is proactive, a go-getter, and how can I put this, is a fast-walker. I look for energy.
- Looking to Improve – This shows humility. Dear millennial, you’ve not arrived yet. None of us have. I look for someone who understands the value of continual, incremental improvement over an extended period of time. They understand the value of compounded performance.
- Listening Skills – This is the most under-rated leadership skill there is. Being a good listener shows respect and indicates you do not know everything. Because of their age, millennials have yet to gain the gift of perspective. Listening skills closes the perspective gap by gleaning from those who have gone on before them.
- Encouraging – I want to work with people who brighten up every room they walk in. No one wants to work with a perpetual dark cloud. I’m looking for people who make me laugh and I look forward to seeing each day. I want to work with people who relieve stress and become lifelong friends.
- No Excuses – They show a propensity or history of getting the job done. They are a bulldog when given a task.
- Communication Skills – They represent themselves and the organization well through verbal, written, and non-verbal communication. BTW – your appearance is part of your communication.
- Efficient – Efficiency shows discipline. They do not chase random or unproductive activities. The millennials I look for do not confuse activity with accomplishment. They know what to work on and what gives the organization its greatest return. The steward their energy and time well.
When you read this list something jumps right out you. These 10 qualities are things you look for in everyone you hire. Therefore, the more you think about it, the more you come to realize millennials do not need a special set of rules. They simply need to be treated just like everyone else.
Set the bar high and if you hire well, your millennial hires will be sure to meet those high standards.
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