7 Issues Millennials Face in the Job Market

Written By Ashley Barrow

Millennials, which are anyone born between 1982–2000, represent more than one-quarter of the American population. The Millennial generation is facing challenges in the workplace unlike generations before. Many of the millennials are struggling just to keep their head above water, with issues such as A.I. job screening, rapid growth in technology, inflation in the education system, and many other problems. We took a deep dive into the top 7 issues millennials say they face in the job market today.

Technology (A.I. Job Screening)

One of many difficulties Millennials face when entering the workforce is the constant changes in recruiting technology. In earlier times, it was sufficient to merely walk into a company, give a manager your resume and tell your story. Today, resumes are sorted by computers, with algorithms to detect for keywords. If those keywords are not present in one’s resume, the chances of it being looked at by a recruiter are slim to none. Candidates who do not fit a specific profile especially diverse candidates are left out in the cold.

Stereotyped by Baby Boomers

Baby Boomers, anyone born between 1946 and 1964 often label millennials as lazy and self-entitled. This stigma can often lead to Millennials to be stereotyped and at times not given enough opportunities in the workplace. According to an article written by Jeff York in Forbes, “Technology has become completely unified into the everyday life of Millennials. They no longer ask for sufficient technology at their jobs, they expect it. Often this expectancy has been painted as an entitlement, but what millennial workers want are the tools they need to do their job efficiently.”

College degree as the entry-level bar

“Four-in-ten Millennial workers ages 25 to 29 had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2016” according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Current Population Survey data. More millennials have degrees and are expected to have a degree for entry-level positions than both Baby boomers and GenXers. Although many trades do not require a four-year degree such as a surgical technologist, a dental hygienist, and a web developer. Often, candidates need a specific skill, not a degree, but it is difficult for an employer to see the talent without higher education. For most diverse millennials, who did not have the opportunity to go to college are usually getting left behind.

Inflation and uneven Education System.

There is inflation in the education system. In large institutions, students are in lecture halls with hundreds of other students and the professor is the only one talking. They are not given the experiential education that they need to excel in their careers. They cannot work one-on-one with other students or colleagues; they do not know how to work with others in their first job out of college. They do not learn skills such as professional communication, critical thinking, and analytical skills. Instead, they are expected to memorize materials that the professor lectures and take a scantron exam to test their knowledge. This way of education typically does not enhance a Millennials chance of grasping essential qualifications that they may need to create an impact in a company.

Lack of Experience

Millennials face a problem with experience. Many companies are looking for candidates with 3–5 years experience for entry-level positions, whom they believe won’t need much training and hit the ground running. This problem causes new graduates to feel discouraged because many do not have that experience. This is the reason, internships have become more critical than ever before, and if their school’s career services are not very strong, many can find themselves struggling to get their career started.

Overqualified for Entry level

On the other hand, candidates who have 3- 5 years of experience may find themselves in a dilemma as they may be overqualified for entry-level jobs. It might seem easy to get a job for which you have all the right credentials, but many Millenials have faced managers who are hesitant to hire someone who looks too good for the role. This many times leads to assumptions by the hiring manager. For example, you will be too expensive, or you will not stay in the position long. Some may even worry that you have a flaw that isn’t obvious which is why you take a job beneath you.

Dishonest Recruiters

When many Millennial job seekers have given up in their search online, they then turn to recruiters. While there are many great recruiters out there who care about their clients and candidates, there are some that only care about a commission. A Millennial who may be seeking employment may find themselves being coerced into taking on a job which they do not want, overqualified for or very underpaid.

When Millennials are seeking employment, it is critical to ask for professional guidance. The Tech Connection is an end to end diversity recruitment software platform, which helps diverse millennials overcome the hurdles they may feel in today’s job market. Find your career success manager on the platform where they can view your resume, conduct and practice mock interviews which will prepare you for anything. We are happy to help! Reach out to us at partnerships@thetechconnectioninc.com or check us out at www.thetechconnectioninc.com

Ashely Barrow is a marketing associate at the Tech Connection, where she creates , designs and manages marketing efforts.