Blog contribution from business consultant Max Milhan of Perficient’s Denver office.
Lots of companies are trying to figure out what makes millenials tick. Why are the strategies for recruiting and retaining this demographic different? Recent studies shed some light on what millenials expect from a job, and one of the top items was a focus on charity, philanthropy or a general attitude of helping to solve the larger problems on the horizon.
Millennials expect businesses to care. While most believe business is having a positive impact on society by generating jobs (48% of surveyed) and increasing prosperity (71%), they think business can do much more to address society’s challenges in the areas of most concern: resource scarcity (68%), climate change (65%) and income equality (64%).
From week one at Perficient, I was invited to participate in my local philanthropy team. We have held school supply drives, fundraisers, Habitat for Humanity builds and gift drives for both the Salvation Army and Toys for Tots. Since that first summer, I have been responsible for coordinating three Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver build days.
Before Perficient, I didn’t understand exactly what Habitat does. I knew that Habitat builds houses, but that’s about it. For the uninitiated, here’s what happens. Habitat takes applications based on specific situations and needs and interviews prospective homeowners. Selected homeowners attend several workshops to prepare them for their home – how to pay a mortgage, how to maintain a home, how to be a good neighbor. While their home is being built, the homeowners spend 200 hours working on their future house and other houses in the area. Once the home is completed, it is sold (not given) to the new homeowners at cost, with Habitat holding the zero interest note.
I’m proud to help support such a great mission. Habitat brings in much of its money through corporate sponsorship days. In the two and a half years that I’ve been with Perficient, the Company has given our team the financial backing and the people to participate in three build days. Working alongside colleagues who I might not always work with in the office and alongside the future homeowners is an extremely gratifying experience. Without the sponsorship of Perficient and the philanthropy team around me, I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to become so involved with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver and I’m definitely grateful that Perficient management has been so supportive.
If millenials expect business to care, you can color me impressed!
