A Love Letter to Millennials 

Roses are red,

violets are blue,

we love Millennials,

and our love is true.

Note: Bridget O’Malley has been a member of Protiviti’s campus recruiting team for over eleven years.

I’m going to start with the qualifier that I consider myself a Millennial.  While some might find this hard to accept, given that my birth year teeters dangerously on the cusp of Gen X-dom, please trust me on this one.

One could, in fact, say that I am a first edition Millennial.  So my love for Millennials has lasted a lifetime.

Today is Valentine’s Day, and in that spirit, what better audience could I shower with love on this day?  My entire career is built on the Millennial generation.  I have laughed much, learned much, and gained much from my association with this #squad.  But I’m not the only one who has benefited from this fantastic group of people.  I have been lucky to see first-hand the way that Millennials are changing Protiviti.

Millennials now make up the majority of Protiviti’s workforce, and I could not be happier about this fact.  It’s simple: I love Millennials.  And here’s just a few reasons why.

You are driven to succeed.

At this point, I have interviewed hundreds of candidates for our intern and entry-level positions.  I have reviewed thousands of resumes.  I am always impressed by the ambition and motivation of our Millennial candidates.  What?  You are an honor roll student, working part-time to put yourself through school, serving as president of your sorority and developing a start-up business to serve meals to citizens in need in your community?  How does one person even do all of that?!!  And yet, I can point to a decade’s worth of candidates just like that who now grace the various career levels here at Protiviti.  Please don’t ever stop being so driven.  You all make me want to be a better person.

You care about everything.

You have created the sharing economy.  Crowdsourcing.  Likes.  Social networks.  You have an interest in what other people are doing, like RIGHT NOW, the activities they are participating in and the meals they are currently eating.  You publicize these things because you know others will care.  You make decisions about jobs and gyms and ice cream brands based on the recommendations of your peers because you care about what they think.  You create sites to raise money for charitable organizations or political causes or personal tragedies because you operate in a culture of caring.  You assume that people care about what you think and feel and have to say, and you give consideration to your peers’ thoughts and feelings.  You nurture your networks in new and exciting ways.  I really dig that about you.

You believe there’s a better way of doing things.

And you know what?  You are right!  Here at Protiviti, there’s only one reason why we are in the consulting game, and it’s to help our clients find a better way of doing things.  So for consulting, having an interest in doing things better is sort of an occupational necessity.  In work and in life, what a great way to approach every day, thinking that things could be better than they are!  Those of us who have been in the workforce for a while — in what we will describe in a condescending fashion to you as “the real world” — we will tell you this isn’t always possible.  But don’t let us get you down, because you are right!!!  There IS a better way of doing things!!! And we will find it.  Together.

Today and every day, Millennials, I love you.  Protiviti loves you.  And we can’t wait to see what you do next.

— Bridget O’Malley
Senior Manager, Best People & Culture