- 1: Dig Into Their Previous Job Experience. You want to know how the Millennial candidate fared at their last job. …
- 2: Ask Questions to Gauge Personality Fit. …
- 3: Ask About Failures. …
- 4: Ask About Job Expectations. …
- 5: Ask About Volunteer Work. …
- Final Thoughts:
A Millennial Job Interview
What have you done in the past that will help you do this job?
Younger Millennials may not have a great deal of work experience. But that shouldn’t be a showstopper. Asking about their transferrable experience, such as projects they’ve worked on at school, a team they were on, or volunteer work, also helps put them at ease, says Dr. Chip Espinoza, author of Managing the Millennials: Discover the Core Competencies for Managing Today’s Workforce and academic director of the Organizational Psychology program at Concordia University, Irvine, California.
It’s also a great job interview question because it shows the candidate you respect them and acknowledge their history, even if they’re just starting out in the workplace. You can ask older Gen Y Millennials about industry certifications, what they’ve learned by solving problems in prior jobs, or what they discovered about themselves in past psychometric tests.
Have you ever had to wear a uniform, cover up a tattoo, or work at a time that was difficult for you, like early in the morning or late at night? How did you handle that?
With this job interview question, you’re listening to see how the candidate coped with a task that required them to make compromises in personal style or conform to standards they didn’t agree with.
Follow up by talking about the most unpleasant aspects of the job, whether it involves grunt work or dealing with rude customers, says Bruce Tulgan, author of Not Everyone Gets a Trophy and founder of Rainmaker Thinking Inc., New Haven, Connecticut.
“You’re better off trying to scare them away by telling them the downsides of the job. Recruiting is one part sales, but you have to stop selling at a certain point and start selecting,” Tulgan explains. Someone who still wants the job after hearing the negatives is more likely to last in the position.
The two newer generations we’re speaking of include Generation Y (aka millennials) and Generation Z. Millennials are those born between 1981 and 1996; Generation Z encompasses anyone born after that. Both generations have distinctive characteristics that play a huge role in how they prioritize their decisions. Its important for employers to understand these characteristics so they can appeal to potential hires.
Millennials value company culture that aligns with their personality – making it vital for the interviewer to identify these specificities. There are several office styles in today’s world: flex time, telecommuting/remote hours, rigid 9-5 structures, etc. If your office style doesn’t mesh with their preference, they probably won’t last long in their role.
An interview gives both the candidate and the employer an opportunity to grow and succeed. At Rockford Mutual, the relentless pursuit of excellence is one of our core values. Have you considered a rewarding career in insurance? Learn more about our career opportunities! For protection at home, on the road and on the go – find an RMIC agent near you:
Be sure to ask the candidate if they expect a hands-on approach from their bosses or if they prefer more autonomy. Millennials and Gen Zers often prefer frequent positive feedback, so ensure that you have those types of reporting structures available as this will be key to their overall productivity. Also, since younger generations tend to prefer meaningful personal connections over hierarchy, a boss that is more friendly, socially active and in tune with them will create a better work environment for them.
Younger generations seem to have ample ambition – they think the sky is the limit! This question will help you gauge just how much ambition they have and allow you to set realistic expectations. Most candidates want more than the position they are interviewing for, so this question shows that you are willing to facilitate their achievements and provide them with the guidance they need to achieve their goals.
Common Interview Questions for Millennials
Knowing how to put together a strong answer to the most common interview questions is obviously key to landing a job. Thats why Ive compiled a list of common interview questions and answers as a resource for you.
FAQ
What are the top 5 questions to ask an interviewee?
- What do you know about our company, and why do you want to work here? …
- What skills and strengths can you bring to this position? …
- Can you tell me about your current job? …
- What could your current company do to be more successful?
What are some intelligent questions to ask during an interview?
- If you were working as a cashier at McDonald’s, what would be your biggest challenge? …
- Do you have a friend or family member who seems as though they have the best job on earth? …
- What do you know about the needs, goals, and challenges of our organization?
What are tricky interview questions?
- What does “success” mean in this role? …
- Am I a good fit for the company? …
- What challenges did my predecessor face? …
- What was the last person in this role missing? …
- Do you have any doubts about my profile? …
- Where will this role go in the future? …
- What is the company culture like?
