Millennial Career Coach
The relationship between employer and employee is rapidly changing.
More and more, employers expect their employees to have certain life skills which can enhance and benefit their careers.
While not completely unreasonable, it is oftentimes difficult to gain these skills without prior mentorship or coaching.
This is where a millennial career coach comes in.
These coaches are meant to provide millennial-aged professionals with mentorship and guidance through the early years of their careers.
A Gallup-Purdue University study found that the university college graduates attended mattered less than the types of experiences they had in college.
Graduates who had these types of experiences, so-called the “big six”, found a strong relation to great jobs and great lives afterwards.
This study found that the type of school or university a recent college graduate attended mattered less than what they experienced while in college.
Regardless of whether or not the college was public or private, large or small, less or more selective, hardly mattered.
Rather, the biggest correlation to success after graduation was related to the experiences gained.
The “Big Six”
The “big six” experiences which were most likely to determine a graduate’s level of career and life success were the following:
- I had at least one professor at [College] who made me excited about learning
- My professors at [College] cared about me as a person
- I had a mentor who encouraged me to pursue my goals and dreams
- I worked on a project that took a semester or more to complete
- I had an internship or job that allowed me to apply what I was learning in the classroom
- I was extremely active in extracurricular activities and organizations while I attended [College]
However, just 3% of all graduates surveyed indicated they had all six experiences.
This lack of experience and support while in college can have detrimental and long-term effects on graduates, particularly as they enter the workforce.
With little support and guidance, these graduates may not fully understand the implications of their actions on the job and may hinder their career growth.
Not only will not attaining these experiences affect graduates after college, but it will also affect a student’s probability of graduating and completing their courses on time.
75% of graduates who had indicated they had achieved all six experiences were able to graduate on-time, compared with just 61% of those who could not strongly agree with any of the six.
Implications on Career Growth
As these graduates enter the workforce, they are facing a new reality.
One where support and guidance may not be provided.
This lack of guidance can be especially difficult for the millennial generation, who historically have received a higher amount of coaching and mentorship throughout their lives.
This lack of explicit, direct guidance from an employer can leave millennial employees lost, confused, and unsure of their next steps.
In addition, it places the employer at a disadvantage, as they begin to lose out on new, fresh graduates who bring with them updated, cutting edge knowledge and skills.
By not providing millennial employees with the support and mentorship they need, employers do a disservice to both themselves and their staff.
They rely on expectations which cannot be met and expectations which may not be understood.
These expectations and implicit corporate etiquette needs will go unfulfilled and will hinder company growth.
How to Remedy
Perhaps the single greatest remedy for this situation is hiring and securing a millennial career coach.
Although the naming may suggest that this service is only for millennials, it is rather, a coach for all employees.
With private career coaching available for all employees, an employer provides access to mentorship, guidance, and support.
Millennial career coaches, and career coaches in general, are able to work one-on-one with employees to understand their career goals and career misunderstandings.
By locating, isolating, and working to resolve, they are able to help all employees reach their career goals and potential.
Career coaches can provide invaluable support for the entire company.
They are a means for employees to express themselves without fear of reprisal or derision.
In addition, they can work directly with the management team to guide employees on appropriate career paths which can be beneficial to the company as a whole.
Additional Resources
Not much has been written on millennial career coaches, however there are a few books which can help employees prepare for their careers.
These books are more holistic and meant for a wide-ranging audience but can provide guidance.
