GenYNetworking.com

The Employer Perspective: Finding the Right Fit

I want to thank Lori Crock, Founder of Written Impact, for contributing her insight to GenYNetworking.com this week. Below is her perspective on finding the right fit in a Gen Y employee.

Why do you enjoy working with Millennials?

Millennials bring energy, enthusiasm and a new way of looking at marketing because they are growing up more comfortably in the world of technology instead of adapting to it as we Boomers did. Millenials are fun and filled with hope. They are a key target audience for my clients, so I want to understand how they think, feel, learn, work, play and buy to help my clients speak effectively to them.

What do you think you offer Generation Y as an employer? How do you mentor the young people you work with?

My goal as an employer is to empower, teach and encourage personal and professional growth. I do not micromanage; I am just not wired that way. I love creative people. I believe that a balance of team work and independent work is essential. I am thrilled when a team member excels. I want to foster growth.

I mentor very individually and very intuitively. What works with one person, may not work with another. My husband Al and I learned this from parenting an 18-year-old son and a 20-year-old daughter. I would say that mentoring is not “molding” but more of an “unfolding.” Careful, gentle and humble attention is required on my part.

What are personal characteristics or skills you look for in an employee? How do you determine if someone is “the right fit” for you and your company?

First of all, I look for someone who is a good person: kind, genuine and honest. I look for someone who is passionate about their work. I believe that a team member’s style must be a fit with my personal and professional brand. This person must be someone Written Impact clients will enjoy working with. I am happy when a team member has skills that are complementary, yet different, from my own because our clients will benefit from this diversity.

The right fit for Written Impact is someone who loves to write and who writes well. Writing is the core of our communication business. This person must also be a strong verbal communicator as we do a lot of meeting and interviewing. This person must understand deadlines and our commitments to clients. I get excited by those who want to be constantly learning.

Everything doesn’t always run smoothly in business, so I want to hire someone who will weather those bumps with grace and an attitude of I-will-do-better-tomorrow when projects don’t go as planned. I believe in giving back to the community and I hope that Written Impact team members will have that desire too. I want to be inspired by others and I want to work in a spirit of friendship.

Weekly Poll

Last week’s results: What is your preferred method of communication when networking?

• Informal social networking sites (i.e., Twitter) – 38%
• Face-to-face – 31%
• Email – 23%
• Professional social networking sites (i.e., LinkedIn) – 8%
• Phone – 0%