{"id":2144,"date":"2021-09-17T16:17:09","date_gmt":"2021-09-17T16:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/?p=2144"},"modified":"2022-10-07T08:19:07","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T08:19:07","slug":"career-advice-for-millennials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetalentcycle.co.uk\/uncategorized\/career-advice-for-millennials\/","title":{"rendered":"Career Advice for Millennials"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jumping into my 40s like…<\/span><\/p>\n

On the (almost) eve of my 40th Birthday, I\u2019ve been wondering how many people realise I (and others of my age), fit into the Millennial category. Technically, the term \u2018Millennials\u2019 refers to those born between the mid \u201890s and early \u201880s (born 17th May 1981, check!). Many people confuse that with younger age groups and whatever they have in mind for age, you can be pretty sure they have negative connotations when it comes to the word \u2018Millennial\u2019. <\/span><\/p>\n

So, it is perhaps no surprise, that with such a bad rep, Millennials are finding it particularly hard to get into and succeed in a tough job market. For the graduate Millennials I work with, they\u2019re trying to make their way in the world, where the financial stakes are high (hellooo paying back a huge student loan), and the world feels like it doesn\u2019t want to accept someone with no experience. But hang on, aren\u2019t you the same people who told me a degree would open doors? <\/span><\/p>\n

And for those Millennials with more experience under their belt, they\u2019re looking to move on in their career. But they\u2019re finding that the internal promotions are just not happening or if they\u2019re looking to change company or even career, because let\u2019s face it, we\u2019re very different people in our mid 30s and 40s to who we were in our 20s, it just \u2018aint happening. Maybe multiple CVs are being sent out with no response, or you\u2019re securing interviews only to be pipped at the final post. <\/span><\/p>\n

With all these frustrations, it would be easy to give up but if there is one thing Millennials won\u2019t do, it is settle for anything less than their dreams. So, with this in mind, here are 5 Top Tips to help turn your Millennial job search into a winning one.<\/span><\/p>\n

1) It\u2019s actually not about experience\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the biggest concerns my clients have, when they\u2019re just starting out in their career or making a career change, is that their lack of experience will mean they can\u2019t secure a role. In fact, they may even be put off applying for something if the employer says they\u2019re looking for experience, which they don\u2019t have. But before you stop and move on, I would always remind clients that the employer is advertising their \u2018perfect wish list\u2019 and they know they\u2019re unlikely to get all the things on that list. So instead of focusing on the areas you don\u2019t \u2018tick\u2019, focus on those that you can. Think about all your fantastic knowledge, experience and transferable skills which you have gained from either study or another career.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also remember why it is they say they want experience. Put simply, it\u2019s because they want you to make their life easier for them. They don\u2019t have time to spend hours training you, especially when they\u2019re navigating this new hybrid world and way of working. So just straighten your Millennial crown and show them how that\u2019ll be no problem for you. We\u2019re a glorious mix of growing up in the analogue generation but are digital literate, so we can cope with all the tech you want to throw at us whilst also being able to communicate, you know, with an actual other person. So we\u2019re going to make your life easier as we won\u2019t be hanging on your coat tails, we\u2019ll be embedding into the team, making connections and learning as we go.<\/span><\/p>\n

2) Don\u2019t fall into the most common CV trap\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHello! My name is Caroline and I am wonderful and am going to tell you all the things about how wonderful I am. I mean allllll the things. And at some point, I may look at your JD and job advert but that\u2019s not essential for me to do, as I\u2019ve just told you I am SO wonderful that it won\u2019t matter, right?\u201d Wrong! Match your CV to the JD\/advert as closely as you possibly can – pick out the specific information they\u2019re asking for and nothing else. Ask yourself \u2018so what?\u2019, every time you try to put something on your application. \u2018So what?\u2019 means thinking about why am I including this? Is it relevant? If I was a piece of computer software (yes, the ATS struggle is real), or an inexperienced person reading this (hello junior recruiter), would it help me to think this applicant is the perfect person for the job? If not, then leave it out. Focus on matching your CV to their job advert and leave everything else out, no matter how proud you are of it. Think of it like a dating\/matching service – your potential new beau does not need to know you once won a writing competition aged 6, but they probably do want to know you thoughts on what makes a good night out or marriage. <\/span><\/p>\n

3) The hidden job market is the most lucrative <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As well as applying for openly advertised roles, make sure you look for things that aren\u2019t so obvious. It is a good way \u2018in\u2019 and won\u2019t be so competitive or crowded as a role advertised somewhere like Indeed. Speculative approaches, making use of your network, researching companies and their social media platforms for hot topics, are all good things to help put you at the front of the job que. And as a Millennial, you don\u2019t just want any job so this will be a good way to connect with potential employers and target those you really want to work for, who will be the right fit for you. And once you\u2019re fully \u2018on board\u2019 with the idea of working for them, you can really sell to them why you\u2019d be the perfect fit.<\/span><\/p>\n

4) Never underestimate the power of your personal brand<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A recent client of mine was delighted that after her attendance at my \u2018Get employers chasing you\u2019 masterclass, she was offered not one, but two, job offers, and put it down to the things she\u2019d learned at the class, particularly about personal brand. Whether it\u2019s on LinkedIn, another social media platform or simply in person, working out who you are and what you stand for, your skills and strengths and the way you can solve potential employer\u2019s problems, is crucial in your job search. This also goes for internal promotion, don\u2019t assume that just because you work there already that you are \u2018known\u2019 by the people that matter. Get involved in projects outside of our job scope, join the employee forum or even the social committee. Make yourself known as someone who is indispensable to that organisation and many of those groups involve senior leaders, so even better for getting noticed.<\/span><\/p>\n

5) The most important question at interview…<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It can be really frustrating when you feel like you\u2019ve done a great interview but then hear they\u2019re going with someone else. If you hear often that they\u2019re choosing someone with more experience, look back at points one and two of these tips as those things also apply at interview. But also make sure you don\u2019t miss any opportunities when you are with them, to really sell yourself and answer any queries or perhaps underlying concerns they have about you. Don\u2019t walk out of that room (literally or virtually), until you feel any potential question marks over your suitability for the role have been dealt with. It\u2019s vital therefore, either during (by reading their body language), or at the end of interview, you ask this simple question:<\/span><\/p>\n

Have I answered all your questions fully or is there anything else you need clarity on?<\/span><\/p>\n

Or words to that effect. It\u2019s so often a chance to clear up any confusion or where they can ask the question they really wanted to – and often it\u2019s not the one on their interview sheet.<\/span><\/p>\n

I hope these tips help but if you want further support, I am about to launch my new Talent Transformation Programme which supports Millennials to clarify, get into and thrive in their careers. Please get in touch to find out more about how it works, with a combination or online learning to cover some of the basics and then further tailored support via one to one sessions, where we\u2019ll apply that learning to your individual circumstance and take you from frustrated and overwhelmed, to achieving your dream career success. <\/span><\/p>\n

#millennials<\/a> #careers<\/a> #careerchange<\/a> #cv<\/a> #interviews<\/a> #experience<\/a> #employers<\/a> #graduates<\/a> #careercoaching<\/a> #careerguidance<\/a> #talent<\/a> #successionplanning<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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