Every company needs a millennial if it wants to survive in today’s ever-growing market and keep up with fast-changing trends. Despite a few misconceptions about millennials, it is still widely viewed that people from this age group tend to be more creative, and are more adapted to a wider and global audience.
Millennials on the other hand tend to seek good paying jobs with a company culture that promotes a work-life balance, according to a 2017 study. Low stress levels and upward mobility are also cited by most millennial respondents as a contributing factor for their ideal job position and company.
These ideas actually reinforce the perception that millennials are quite choosy when it comes to jobs, and tend to quit early on if the work and office environment is not up to their expectations. On the upside, this attitude also sparked a growing number of companies which are now incorporating a good work-life balance in their culture.
This had been adapted by mostly tech firms like Google and Cisco, for example. Well-known names in the food and drink industry such as Starbucks and In-N-Out Burger were also noted to provide a great work-life balance among employees. But aside from company culture, millennials put a priority on jobs that offer a good salary – so what could these be?
1. Website/Software Developer
Web Developer and Software Developer came in 1st and 3rd respectively in their list of top 10 best jobs for millennials. Both jobs offer high salaries, website developers have a median salary of $64,970 while software developers have it higher with a median salary of $92,860.
Both jobs seem to be a natural fit for millennials because they require tech-savviness and high coding skills. Aside from that, developers also need to have an eye for design and detail – being responsible for the look and functionality of websites and apps.
Best of all, most companies offer flexible working hours for developers since the work is usually results and output-based. This makes room for a good work-life balance (given proper time management).
2. Market Researchers and Analysts
Market researchers and analysts were listed as the eight most popular jobs for millennials in a study done by SmartAsset. Market researchers and analysts are responsible for studying the feasibility of a product and marketing strategies that should be employed whether on a local or global level.
Marketing requires a bit of creativity to be effective in communicating and promoting a product/service, and millennials would most likely find this as a fulfilling job. However, the same study also found that most market research and analysts positions are only found in big cities such as New York and Los Angeles – making opportunities in this industry scarce and more competitive.
3. Freelancers and Consultants
Being a freelancer (either a freelance designer, developer or writer) or a consultant (like a financial consultant for example) will obviously offer a more flexible work schedule and could thus offer a work-life balance which many millennials would love. Income would vary though, because it might depend on the number of clients that a freelancer/consultant is willing to take in any given time.
Interpreters and Translators come in 6th as the best job for millennials. The job was also noted for being high with self-employed individuals – with translators/interpreters choosing to freelance their services rather than being employed in a company. Median salary is reported at $44,190.
4. Mechanical Engineer
Being a mechanical engineer is great for millennials who love to tinker with tools and machines and deal with solutions to man’s ever complex ways of living. Improving engines and mechanical tools are a huge part of innovation, which millennials tend to forget now that innovation has become more focused on softwares and app services. The job offers a high salary, with a median of $83,590, but work-life balance is only at an average level.
5. Cartographer
For millennials who love to satisfy their wanderlust, becoming a cartographer is a viable job position. It may seem like an old-timey career, but the art of cartography had actually caught up with the times. Cartographers don’t deal with huge maps and inks anymore, their services have gone digital too – servicing the likes of Google (think Google Maps and Google Street) and government/scientific institutions which need data for satellites, GPS technology and communications. The best part here is, cartographers have opportunities to travel to places that they need to map. Salary is good too, with a median of $61,880.
In the digital age, millennials do have a variety of career options, both in the digital and non-digital fields. Admittedly though, the digital era made it more possible to achieve a good work-life balance – with several jobs such as writing, designing, web developing and even translating becoming lucrative options as a freelancing career.
Source: U.S. News & World study which surveyed over a thousand people from the 20 to 34 year-old age range.
By Gemma Reeves
Gemma Reeves is a seasoned writer who enjoys creating helpful articles and interesting stories. She has worked with several clients across different industries such as advertising, online marketing, technology, healthcare, family matters, and more. She is also an aspiring entrepreneur who is engaged in assisting other aspiring entrepreneurs in finding the best office space for their business.