Training Millennials

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Millennials were born between 1981–2000. About half of them are in the workforce and they have very specific training needs and desires.

In a recent SHRM article, it was reported that 90% of millennial respondents said it was important that training is easy to complete and understand. 85% said that it needed to be engaging and fun; 85% said training needed to be personalized and relevant; and, sadly, 30% said they received no formal training on the job.

These results were not surprising. Millennials want training that will help them improve and grow, not only at work but in their personal lives as well. As you present to millennials, it is important to tie the information back to how it will help them be more effective and efficient.

Millennials are tech-savvy and they like having technology woven into their training. This may mean providing links and additional online resources that they can access while taking or following their training.

Millennials expect visuals. If you’re using PowerPoint be sure to have pictures, video and infographics. When it comes to training, they are less about entitlement and more about engagement. Keep it fresh. Keep it fun and keep it interesting.

Millennials want constant praise and feedback. They appreciate opportunities for coaching throughout a training experience and enjoy having more senior employees in the sessions so that they can be mentored by them.

In reality, what millennials want is simply great training that is engaging and effective … and that is good for any training no matter what generation is attending!


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