You’re likely always on the lookout for exceptional salespeople to join your team. Inevitably, you will find yourself reading a lot of resumes from new graduates. There is a stereotype, however, that millennials are apathetic, entitled, and lacking drive. Not only is this stereotype ill-founded, but if believed, it can deprive you of the most ideal candidates that your organization needs. In this post, let’s take a look at some of the top reasons to hire millennials for sales.
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Millennials Are The Most Dominant Demographic
According to PEW Research, millennials make up 35% of the workforce, which is more than Boomers (25%) and Gen Xers (33%).
In other words, when you begin headhunting for a valuable addition to your organization, there is a 35% chance that you will run into a millennial. Considering they meet your requirements, are you willing to let them go just because they were born in a certain era? With an Ernst & Young study predicting that millennials will constitute about 75% of the workforce by 2025, your team would be better prepared for that future if you start integrating millennials as core members of your team as soon as possible.
Technically Savvy
Millennials have grown up with computers and smartphones. They are quick to learn and adapt to new sales technologies, which can be very valuable in the workforce. Many millennials also have very high social selling skills, which could be a result of having to learn varying online communication methods.
Highly Purpose-Driven
Millennials successfully navigated through the post 9/11 economic slump, the 2008 stock market crash, and other major incidents due to their persistence and dedication. They are driven by their purpose, which in a salesperson’s case, would be providing clients with the best possible solution and closing a high number of deals every month.
As such, many millennials are focused on making an impact. This drive has seen them put off marriage and children longer than any of the previous generations.
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No Need for Micromanagement
Millennials don’t like being chased around by managers and being micromanaged every step of the way. As a sales manager, you probably don’t like to run around employees and bind them to hard and fast rules, either. And so, hiring employees from this generation might be the best option for you.
Remember, the millennial generation is keen on learning and tailoring their ways in the face of new challenges. Ready to adapt in the face of changing consumer patterns, millennials can prove to be a real asset.
They Appreciate Feedback
Ever had a sales representative who took feedback way too personally? As a sales manager, your job is to correct where they are wrong and provide constant advice on how to manage the challenges they face when dealing with customers.
Even though some salespeople do not take constructive criticism in the right way, it is a crucial part of becoming a high performing employee. When dealing with millennials, you are less likely to see such behavior.
According to a Deloitte study of the five most important factors when evaluating jobs, millennials view the potential of professional development and training programs as one of the top factors they value. Because of this drive, millennials may be more open to criticism if they believe that correcting their behavior can help them to progress within the organization.
How to Recruit Millennials
To attract millennials to your organization, you need to focus on what matters most to them:
- Impact. How can you present the work that your organization is doing as meaningful and impactful?
- Work-life balance and flexibility. Is there a possibility to work from home? Are salespeople tied to their desks all day?
- Collaborative work environments. How does your team work together? How will new hires be able to contribute?
- Continuous learning opportunities. What opportunities are available through your organization for continued improvement?
- Clear career paths. Millennials want to be rewarded for their hard work. They want to see a clear progression, or they may lose motivation.
With a science-backed predictive hiring assessment, you can find the right candidate with far greater accuracy than relying on impressions or instinct. At HireDNA, we can help you to create a custom assessment based on your hiring criteria and unique sales environment. Go beyond personality traits to assess candidates’ true sales DNA and potential in the role.
Learn more about our Predictive Hiring Assessments.
Create A Successful Sales Team
At HireDNA, we can help you recruit the perfect candidates for your sales team. Let us help you grow your organization with the right candidates for the right roles, backed by proven data and science.
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- 20 years’ worth of hiring experience
- 8m candidates assessed
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- 70% candidate retention
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