Why Young Talent Matters To Your Association

By the year 2020, 50 percent of the workforce will be made up of Generation Y (born between 1982 and 1995). That means, if you want your association to remain relevant in your industry, your association needs to attract this younger workforce. Take a look around. How are you doing?

By the year 2020, 50 percent of the workforce will be made up of Generation Y (born between 1982 and 1995). That means, if you want your association to remain relevant in your industry, your association needs to attract this younger workforce.

Take a look around. How are you doing?

While 74 percent of associations say that attracting young talent is important, only 44 percent are happy with their ability to do so. We’re going to help you fix that.

ATTRACTING MORE YOUNG TALENT

Your membership association needs young talent–they are the future of work and your association. But there’s more to it than just that. When you engage Generations X (1965-1981) and Y in your association, they can help you attract even more of their peers.

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to attract new members to your association. Potential young, talented members aren’t going to believe you that your association is hip and valuable, they’re going to believe their peers. And the younger generations are connected to large networks via social media. Getting a few young members advocating for your association can go a long way, quickly.

Identifying advocates from Generations X and Y and engaging them in spreading your message will be one of the best ways to attract more young members to your association. Essentially, you need young members to get young members.

FRESH IDEAS

Young talent brings fresh ideas and new skills to your association. Young members aren’t stuck in the way you’ve always done things. They’ve got ideas and want to be heard. Having Millennials and Gen Xers on your association’s committees will increases your voices for change and provide additional ideas for how to do it best.

VOLUNTEERS: HELP THEM; HELP YOURSELF

Gen Y might not be having a great time in the job market, and that’s exactly why they’ll be looking to you if you offer opportunities for them to volunteer and gain valuable experience. Helping them out will help you out. Many associations are run on volunteer power, making volunteerism an excellent way to both attract and benefit from young members.

Your young association talent is looking for opportunities to volunteer, get experience and grow. Make sure your organization is not only providing those opportunities to volunteer, but that you have have a process for identifying top volunteers for further involvement and growth. Ask your committee members to identify their top volunteers who show leadership potential. These young volunteers might be just the people you want to invite to join your board.

Associations that recognize the value of young talent and know how to attract and nurture it will make it for the long haul. If you want that to be your association, it’s time to make talent acquisition and development a strategic part of your association planning.

Learn more about attracting younger generations to your association by purchasing “Knowing Y: Engage the Next Generation Now” from XYZ University CEO Sarah Sladek!