Two perceptions of millennials I hear most are: 1) they don’t want to work, and 2) they think they should be promoted, run things, etc. after being here for a day. Now, you might be tired.
- Be mindful of the questions YOU ask during an interview. These give the employer a window into your thinking and mindset. Too many questions early in the process on compensation, work/life balance, speed of promotions, etc. will send up a red flag (if there are questions you feel you need to have the answer to along these lines, wait until you receive an offer).
- Work extraordinarily hard in internships, externships and clerkships. Don’t leave the office until you’ve asked multiple people (i.e. not just a clerk coordinator or your direct supervisor) if there is anything you can help with. Whether your future is with that employer or not, you want the first thing out of their mouth about you to be things like “tireless worker,” “goes the extra mile,” “always stays late.”; and
- Be humble. Understand where you fit into the organization, which in the beginning is at the bottom! If you can highlight past experiences where you did the grunt work (e.g. mopping floors, filing papers) and did it well and without complaint, that will help demonstrate your willingness to pay your dues.\par
Once you get into an organization and gain the respect of your superiors and colleagues, you will have a seat at the table to help them figure out the long-term strategy of working with your generation. They want that from you and they need that from you. But you have to get in the door and prove yourself first, and defeat the millennial perception. Connect with Daniel at Daniel_Hare@Baylor.edu and/or @BaylorLawDaniel on Twitter. Job of the Week: Each week I highlight a job in Symplicity you might be interested in but may have missed. This week’s job is: Associate Attorney at Cain & Associates(3L, Cleburne) Log in to Symplicity to view this job and apply.