A new survey by the Futurestep division of Korn Ferry, the global people and organisational advisory firm, has highlighted what the top priorities are for millennial workers and their desired workplace preferences.

The survey included 1,000 executives from across the globe and found that 28% said the ability to make an impact on the company mattered the most for millennial employees, with the amount of income coming last.

When posed with the question, ‘what will make a millennial chose one job over another?’ 38% responded with the company’s visibility and ability to portray business goals clearly.

A powerful generation of workers

It’s clear that millennials will form a powerful generation of workers and those with the right skills will be in demand. They may be able to command not only desirable reward packages but also have a strong influence over the way they work within the workplace, posing one of the biggest challenges to organisations.

For employee’s managing millennials, the study shows that there needs to be a strong emphasis on providing consistent feedback, with three-quarters of respondents claiming that the generation requires more feedback than any other.

The research shows that millennials have placed a high value on knowing where the organisation stands and how they can have a positive impact on the company’s mission. It may prove difficult for managers to find the time required to offer the feedback that millennials crave, but it is vital to help them understand how their role fits with the greater organisational strategy.

As long as millennials feel they are valued, then it seems then they will remain engaged and productive within the company. Therefore it is vital that bosses of other generations are flexible and adapt to their differing needs.

Getting a head-start

Organisational leaders who are able to come to terms with the difference in workstyles and preferences of employees from different generations can make themselves hugely attractive to the next generation of top talent.

Regardless of the long-term ambitions and aims of an individual company, the ability to attract and retain millennial talent will be a vital step towards achieving those goals.

If you’re an employer looking to attract the best graduate talent, find out how Discovery Graduates can help.