How to engage young engineers

According to a Gallup poll, only 30 percent of employees in the United States and 13 percent of employees outside of the United States feel engaged with the companies that employ them. What’s the best way to ensure young talent becomes invested in the company? Engineering leaders need to use strategies to effectively mold and develop young talent.

If you want young engineers to consistently improve, it is important to give constructive feedback. Millennials have been proven to desire constructive and actionable feedback. Instead of relying solely on a year-end review to evaluate everyone in the company, make sure to give weekly constructive feedback to employees. If they can consistently learn from their mistakes, they are more likely to develop and grow as employees and even leaders.

Providing employees with opportunities outside of their job function will give them the opportunity to develop a unique set of skills. If you notice an employee is working well and applying herself, that may be the time to grant her more opportunities within the workplace. As a manager, you should strive to encourage workers to consistently challenge themselves with new projects and ideas. By doing so, you will create good energy in a once complacent workplace.

If you have the time, allow yourself to be a mentor to your new talent. Mentoring will allow you to create meaningful relationships and help new employees reach their potential. Millennials have been proven to take more initiative when they’re encouraged to do so. Remember, your mentorship might mean you are ensuring a leadership pipeline within your business.