Savvy recruiters know about baby boomers, Gen X and even Gen Y.
But there’s a new kid in town that HR and hiring managers are beginning to encounter: Gen F.
So who are they and why should you care?
For starters, “Generation Facebook” is the latest emerging workforce demographic. As a group, they’re demanding, socially aware, tech savvy and (as their name suggests) perpetually connected online. And, at least in their own minds, they’re in the driver’s seat of today’s workplace.
Because of their age and skill set, the Facebook generation will become essential to your organization’s future success. To successfully recruit them, you must first understand what makes them unique.
They approach work differently. Unlike previous demographics, Gen F expects the social environment of their work life to mirror the social context of the Web – rather than the bureaucratic and downright archaic management practices still used in many of Middle Tennessee’s businesses. Having grown up online, these workers are already transforming how work gets done – and creating a major paradigm shift in recruiting.
Simply put, Gen F wants to work for companies that are “with it” – not “past it.” So to attract the best talent Generation F has to offer, make sure your organization possesses these characteristics relevant to today’s social Web:
Leaders are service-oriented. On the Web, credible arguments, demonstrated expertise and selfless behavior are the only catalysts for getting things done. Gen F wants to work for leaders who are committed to serving the needs of all employees – not merely commanding or sanctioning.
Work groups are self-defined, self-organized and self-governed. In online communities, you link up with individuals of your choosing, follow whom you want and share with select groups or people. A company that is “with it” allows employees to create their own project teams, establish mutually beneficial goals and monitor their own progress.
Diverse ideas all compete on equal footing. On today’s Web, every idea has the chance to gain a following based solely on its perceived merit – and not the political power of its proponents. To attract Gen F, create an environment in which employees at all levels have an equal ability to control company conversations and have their ideas taken seriously.
Resources are not allocated, but attracted. Traditionally, large organizations allocate resources based on top-down, budget-driven principles. Companies attractive to generation Facebook more closely follow the Web’s “market economy” resource model, in which human currency (i.e., time, attention and effort) naturally flows toward ideas and projects that are attractive – and away from those that aren’t.
With a heavy social media presence and a team of tech-savvy recruiters, Wood Personnel is equipped to help you acquire the area’s finest Gen F talent. Contact us today to learn more about our staffing and recruiting services for Nashville employers.
