WASHINGTON — It’s the season of college graduations and a new batch of degree-holding millennials are looking for positions in a competitive job market.
While many millennials are well-educated and have a great understanding of technology, there are things the young people in the generation need to know when it comes to landing a first job and how to behave while working, says CNBC contributor, Kelley Holland.
“[Millennials] need to work on soft skills like communicating better, lose the texting language, write things like a grown up, showing they have a work ethic and demonstrating persistence,” Holland said on WTOP Monday. “These are some of the things that employers feel they come up short on.”
Employers may not have the most confidence in the potential millenial hires. A recent study indicates that many employers question whether millennials have what it takes to succeed in the workplace, according to CNBC.
Holland offers tips for millennials to get prepared for the work place and maintain professionalism.
- Consider the first job as a “job to get a job.” A promotion may not come in the first week of a job, so see where the first job can lead.
- Develop a group of contacts. Millennials can start their network in college with other students who have already found employment. It’s important to build a network of people who know you and want to help you.
- Demonstrate the capacity to work hard. Showing up early and dressing appropriately, and avoiding “text language” in work memos can help show professionalism, too.
- Follow others’ leads. Observing the actions of successful people can help millennials learn what works and what doesn’t.
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