3 Reasons why you should hire Millennials for e‑learning

If you work in e-learning, you will know that the industry is fairly new. Compared to most other jobs out there, e-learning is still fresh, and the term often raises a few eyebrows and elicits confusion in conversation. This means that the market is not quite bursting with available talent, ready to enter the industry.

If you are an employer, this can be quite a challenge. But here’s our suggestion; tap into the market of Millennials. Try not to pass judgement before you’ve read further…

It’s no secret that Millennials receive a bad rap in most situations; they are often called out for being lazy, entitled, and arrogant about their abilities. But is this really the case?

Millennials, or Generation X, are generally categorised as young adults who were born between the late 1980s and the early 2000s. They are the first generation to be exposed to technology from an early age – and with such frequency. As a general rule-of-thumb, you can often identify a Millennial by the way that they’re “glued to their phone.”

They are often accused of having less work ethic than the generations before, and are perceived as unable to conform to the current work world. According to a study by the Bureau of Labour Statistics, 53% of hiring managers are unwilling to employ Millennials in their teams because of these perceived problems.

They feel that Millennials are impatient, and unwilling to put in the hard work that was so typical of previous generations. But what if they have it all wrong?

Perhaps all Millennials need is work that is stimulating, with an obvious purpose, that also changes frequently to keep their attention – like e-learning? Here are some reasons why Millennials are ideal for the e-learning industry:

E-learning has a clear purpose

It’s true that Millennials have issues with menial work, but in e-learning that is rarely a problem. Digital solutions are created for the purpose of enlightening and informing people, and…BAM! That’s a valid purpose. This generation also places high importance on being informed, yet many of them rarely pick up a newspaper. Instead they use social media and a variety of apps to stay well-versed in what’s going on in the world. They know that this is important, as is the need to provide accessible education to people who need it.

Instead they use social media and a variety of apps to stay well-versed in what’s going on in the world. They know that this is important, as is the need to provide accessible education to people who need it.

In the context of an e-learning company that sells digital solutions, there is also a definitive outcome that needs to be achieved. If, for example, there is a need to develop a solution for systems training, the employees can easily identify the end goal and create a solution that, when completed, will equip the learner to effectively maneuver through the system.

It gives them an objective to reach, and this is what Millennials need to motivate them.

Digital solutions are easily accessible

One of the main criticisms of Millennials is that they have little patience; they live in a world of instant gratification. When they want to know something, they use Google. When they want to watch something, they are easily able to stream it on a device of their choice.

But that’s also why they understand the importance of accessibility and the technological solutions that make it possible. They particularly understand that learning solutions need to be both effective and efficient.

If you have a Millennial in your employment, and they are tasked with creating a solution for a certain skills need, they will get straight to the point with it. Gone are the days when you had to include five pages of context for training. Nowadays, people want that same easy access, and at a faster pace.

A Millennial will know to craft a solution that provides learners with adequate context while also providing only the key points that need to be understood; one such method is known as microlearning.

Millennials are also comfortable with other forms of e-learning; they are not strangers to videos, animations and the use of audio. Many of them use YouTube videos and tutorials to learn about various topics, from make-up tutorials to mathematical integration.

They know that sometimes a quick video can be a more effective teaching tool than a long-winded lecture on the same topic.

Besides the actual content, the young adults who have grown up using various digital platforms will understand that different devices have different requirements. For example, what may work on a desktop may not necessarily be accessible on a mobile phone or tablet, or vice versa.

They will take into consideration the specs of the device and the clarity and size of the screen for which they are developing.

The e-learning industry changes frequently

When we think of e-learning and digitised solutions, we rarely have one, set concept in mind; is it referring to interactive modules, videos or some other completely obscure concept? This is because the industry changes at such a fast pace.

Ten years ago, the notion that gamification could be used as a learning tool was unheard of – now it is something that most companies want their employees to engage with. In this industry, you need to stay on your toes and adapt to the next best thing before it’s even fully functional.

And that’s where Millennials become useful. They are adaptive by nature to new technologies, systems, and media. You can utilise this as an employer, especially if you specialise in various forms of e-learning. But more importantly Millenials are notoriously aware of the latest innovations and trends. If used to your advantage, this will enable you to stay ahead of the market, with minimal effort.

So, contrary to popular belief, admitting Millennials into the working world is definitely a good thing; for them, you, and e-learning…but only if you’re smart about it.

Author: Mishka Vorajee

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