Why it’s best for millennials to specialize and be flexible
Millennials are now the largest generation in the workforce, and business owners expect to hire them more. According to a new study from Elance-oDesk, hiring managers focus on hard skills rather than personality -- so what does that mean for millennials?
Those entering the workforce will have to hit the ground running: with a focus on hard skills, there’s going to be less training time on the job -- and more independent learning required to be a competitive candidate before you even snag a gig.
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Luckily, millennials have both passion and flexibility, which means that they can be quick learners in a crunch. With HR’s emphasis on the value of hard skills, it’s looking better and better for millennials to specialize-- focusing on their strengths and adaptability, rather than scrambling to learn quick tricks. And as HR managers move toward hiring more freelancers, millennials who specialize might find themselves in demand as contractors and consultants.
One thing is clear: millennials are dynamic, flexible workers who will thrive if they have the right hard skills. And as for those who don’t like the idea of even having a boss? 79% of millennials would consider quitting their regular job and working for themselves in the future.
**Are you a millennial, or a millennial freelancer? What do you think? **
For more stats, check out the study released by Elance-oDesk and Millennial Branding.
Larissa Pham is an artist and writer based in Brooklyn, New York. Don't worry, she's a millennial too.