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Businesses Are Facing A ‘Millennial Challenge,’ Survey Finds

Businesses are encountering a millennial challenge, according to new research from The Channel Company.

Sixty-two percent of respondents in the Women of the Channel survey say they’ve found it difficult to hire and/or retain this younger generation as key factors like compensation, company culture and work/life balance drive a young employee’s happiness in the workplace. That’s led some organizations to think up new ways to manage their hiring. Female executives discussed the issue at The Channel Company’s Women of the Channel East Summitin New York on Monday.

“The challenge is to try to come up with the correct times to offer them flexible solutions. Some of them want to work at home. Some of them want to see themselves rising quickly,” said Tammy Cooper, VP of Human Resources at Technologent, a Global Provider of IT, Data, Cloud and Security Services based in Irvine, Calif.

The survey also finds that many young women are choosing to not pursue managerial roles out of fear that it will negatively impact their work/life balance. Others fear they lack the skills to succeed and some said they’re unsure if their careers are the right fit. Yet, 73 percent of respondents who took the jump to advance their careers said their sacrifices were worth it.

“I get the skill part. Listen, I’ve felt that way too fresh out of college - even 10 years out of my career,” said Jayne Adams, Director of Systems Channel Sales at IBM. “Skill development is really something you have to do throughout your whole lifetime. I don’t have the answers either.”

Television presenter Lara Spencer shared her rise to success and the lessons learned along the way.

“I feel that going for those opportunities where you guys are looking for that job, where you want to take a leap or instruct yourself,” said Spencer. “It’s OK if you don’t know every single thing you’re required to do. It’s OK as long as you’re open minded, want to do the work and want to learn. You’re smart. You know what you’re good at. Take the chance.”

Watch CRNtv’s video included in this article to learn more.

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