For Gen Y, it isn’t all about the Benjamins

When it comes to careers, what does Generation Y really want? It’s no mystery that the workforce has changed and employers have had to make adjustments to attract strong candidates. But what’s the magic formula?

According to a survey by Robert Half International and Yahoo! HotJobs, one-third of Gen Y workers polled said compensation and benefits issues together were their chief career concern. The second most common response (26%) was finding and keeping a job, and career satisfaction ranked third (23%).

The Millennials surveyed were focused on practical things, such as saving for retirement, job satisfaction and work/life balance. In fact, nearly three out of four (73%) of workers said they are worried about balancing work and family obligations.

The California Society of CPAs reached out to its young CPA members to learn more. They found that to make your firm attractive, employers have to look beyond the pay and benefits. The young CPAs had a few suggestions for what employers can do for them:

• Be supportive of employees’ career development. Gen Y wants to know they have potential for advancement.
• Treat employees with respect. An open-door policy lets workers know their ideas and concerns can be heard, and enhances the sense of working on a team.
• One word: flexibility. Allow workers to determine their own schedules and hours they want to work. Give options like flex time and converting overtime to paid time off.
• Don’t forget the little things like snacks in the kitchen and fun social activities.

Do you agree? What is your chief career concern for the future? Take our Web poll and let us know what matters most to you.

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