Millennials are eager. They’re excited by possibility. And they’re always looking for what’s next. New opportunities that align with their purpose act as a catalyst to spring them into action!

Based on their unique generational profile, Millennials are one of the hardest – and easiest – groups to manage. Yet most Executive Leaders I support find managing Millennials to be more challenging than rewarding. So I wrote this especially for you…

As their champion and thought partner, I coach Millennial leaders as they navigate transitions and support their managers who want to recruit, develop, and retain Millennial talent.

I share more about the “Millennial mindset” in the following open letter to hiring managers. I’ve compiled much of my own research from my Millennial Leadership Project and other sources* that specialize in understanding this dynamic generation.

So to all those established leaders and managers who want the best employees out there…read on!

Dear Potential Employer:

As an emerging Millennial Leader, I need a job. And a good job… While I would love to work for your organization in a notable position, here are a few things you should know before you hire me.

I will work harder and smarter than you expect. I am so dedicated that I will willingly work 24/7 and harder than any of your other employees (combined) as long as you give me a job that has a purpose that I personally connect with. If I disengage, it’s likely because I am responding in kind to other’s apathy or lack or work ethic.

I am not driven by money as much as you think. While I want to make a livable wage (and pay off my student loans before I retire), I am not solely in this job for the cash. Yes, a nice signing bonus is a plus, and regular promotions are desirable. But what I really want is to matter. Money can’t buy meaning.

I am a problem solver and a difference maker. I have a huge desire to not only witness change, but to be the change-maker and make things happen! I desire transformation, not just transaction. Because of this, I may be labeled “naïve” or “impulsive,” but what you really should notice is my passion and drive to make your organization a better place to work.

I want to know what you think. Please share your honest feedback with me and expect me to do the same. Yes, I respect you and that’s why I want you to know what I think, too. And while I thrive on praise, it must be genuinely deserved and earned. Don’t give me some “great job, kid” remarks. Be sincere and authentic.

I am not who you think I am. While some may call me entitled, I am merely a product of my upbringing and generational culture. I have already been exposed to more gadgets, networks, and access (to information, disposable income, technology, etc.) than you likely will experience in your entire lifetime. But I can use this to help this company and grow your organization if you let me. So you see, it’s not entitlement; it’s enlightenment.

There is so much more to me than I can share here. I hope you already see that and will respond with a willingness and openness to meet me where I’m at. I just might surprise you.

Great Millennial Resources:


Be the Revolution,

Leslie Bosserman, M.Ed., CPCC

Executive Coach + Lifestyle Strategist for Millennial Leaders + Managers

Originally published at http://leadwithintention.com/blog/dear-future-employer

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Author(s)

  • Leslie M. Bosserman

    Founder and Executive Coach

    Lead With Intention®

    Leslie M. Bosserman, M.Ed., CPCC is an Executive Coach and Lifestyle Strategist for innovators and creative professionals leading dynamic and diverse teams. As a creative thought leader, Leslie has spoken at TEDxEustis and is currently writing a book on a decade of research around the science of Emotional Endurance. After working for a decade in higher education and student development, Leslie launched Lead With Intention® – a boutique coaching and consulting practice that specializes in leadership coaching, customized training, and organizational strategy for clients and their teams around the world. She collaborates with a range of creative professionals from entrepreneurs launching their startups to executive leaders at Fortune 500 Companies. Leslie is committed to enhancing her local community and co-created and launched The Makers Place™ with her husband. As the regions first coworking space with onsite childcare, this innovative multi-use space supports parents who need a professional workspace along with flexible childcare options. She also currently works as the Director and Site Supervisor of Mini Makers™ Preschool. Leslie has also served locally on the leadership team for TEDxSacramento as the Event Coordinator and volunteered as a coach for emerging female leaders through The Women's Impact Alliance (formerly The Coaching Fellowship). As a two-time UCLA alumna, Leslie graduated with her Bachelor’s in Mass Communications (B.A.) and a Master's of Education (M.Ed.). She is also trained as a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through The Co-Active Training Institute, international leaders in Coach Training and Leadership Development. Before becoming a Professional Coach, Leslie worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she taught leadership and diversity classes as well as ran a campus-wide Leadership Certificate Program for over 500 students, faculty, and staff members. She also has worked professionally in residential life and academic research at UCLA and in Public Affairs at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under the U.S. Department of Energy. Leslie loves to travel and explore new places and has visited over 30 countries, including living abroad in the Middle East for a year where she volunteered at local schools in Amman, Jordan with her husband. She is an avid artist and creative who also enjoys karaoke, cooking ethnic food, supporting local coffee shops, and practicing yoga. Leslie is a novice pickleball player and an expert bargain shopper! She lives in Northern California with her husband and three young children, and travels internationally for coaching, organizational trainings, and retreat facilitation.