Avocado on toast, anybody?

Millennials. They’re mollycoddled, entitled, snowflakes - to name a few out of a growing list of assumptions. One glance at recent headlines and you’d see why these perceptions exist; a 26-year-old woman has run herself into financial ruin after trying to become Instagram famous, they’re drinking lattes out of avocado skins and they’re happy to hop jobs until their standards are met.

Regardless of your opinion on Gen Y, the reality is, they are shaping the modern workplace. Research suggests that Millennials place precedence on flexible working, technology and development opportunities; demands which are wrenching the old ‘back in my day’ mindset from leaders’ grasp and forcing them to evaluate their purpose.

Yet, in an economy that has embraced precarious work, combined with extortionate housing costs and stagnating wages, a rather bleak picture has been painted for this generation. Naturally, there is a will to change old styles of thinking and working.

Thankfully, traditional industries are now matching this shift. Bob Dudley, Chief Executive of BP, acknowledged this change in a 2016 speech, outlining concerns that oil and gas risked missing out on up-and-coming talent. “The Millennial generation don’t just want career growth,” he said. “They also expect to make a positive contribution to society.”

This drive towards social good is permeating organisations. Even if it is a talent attraction technique, the change will be positive. Yet, as BP’s Global Head of Talent Attraction - Graduate & Experienced Hire, Victoria Hyland, tells me, organisational values are more complex than writing ‘we care about XYZ’ on a corporate website – and nor does it guarantee candidates. Recruitment, of any group, requires an understanding of the nuances which speak to target pools, careful campaigning and setting out a vision for the future.

So, get comfortable, help yourself to some avocado toast and a matcha latte, and read on to find out how BP are determined to become an employer of choice

Rianna Fulham - Staff Writer