Deepak Subramanian

The new grads now entering the workforce are among the first of about ~70 million people born between 1999 and 2010. This generation, termed as Millennials, came of age at the same time as the Internet, social media and smartphones were born into a world. They grew up in an era where connected technologies were no longer novel but standard. Akin to the generations before them, millennials are thirsty for information, even more adept with technology, and thrive in collaborative environments.With millennials entering the workforce and more expected to join in the coming years, it is an exciting time for learning and development professionals in the corporate world. The old ways of running a corporate learning and development function are expected to undergo a significant overhaul.&nbsp;&nbsp;Millennials value information that they can relate to and apply practically. Since they have shorter attention spans, micro-learning and nuggets are integral to their learning style. They prefer bite-sized content instead of going through elaborate lessons.Let's dive deep into the ways Millennials learn;Research-based methodsMillennials prefer a broad spectrum of learning strategies. The concept of learner style is more pronounced in this generation. They like learning materials delivered to cater to their visual, auditory and even kinesthetic needs.RelevanceMillennials are aces at "googling" and discovering information. They do not value a piece of information for its own sake but for its relevance to their lives. Trainers will find millennials engaged in hands-on or application-based case studies, where new knowledge is discovered and synthesised actively between group members.RelaxedThink "laid back" when you conduct your training sessions. Millennials prefer a relaxed learning environment with minimum pressure, more freedom to complete assignments, and more freedom for personal expression and creativity.This generation exhibits deep curiosity about the world and desires to develop further skills and knowledge that can help them professionally. Millennials understand the importance of setting and achieving goals for personal growth and their careers.&nbsp;The above points are just simple suggestions for making your training more suitable for millennials. The best way is always to ask them what they would like, as millennials know best what they require. Personalised learning is thus another learning method you can use with millennials. Whatever method/s you choose, assess it frequently, as millennial notions and trends change often.

Although millennials value training and development opportunities more than earlier generations, they also learn in unique ways. Have you ever wondered how they learn? Read on. 

How Do Millennials Learn?

Although millennials value training and development opportunities more than earlier generations, they also learn in unique ways. Have you ever wondered how they learn? Read on. 
