I’m sure you’ve heard a lot lately about millennials in the workplace. Whether or not you agree with the common sentiment that they’re all lazy and entitled – for the record, my (admittedly biased) opinion is that we’re not all anything – you’re going to have to hire some. So how do you attract and retain them?

Make it easy and convenient to apply

Stay up to date. Well over half of millennial job seekers are using mobile and social media to apply for jobs. Make sure your job applications are mobile optimized and you’re using your social media accounts for recruiting. To attract millennial candidates, you need to be where they are – on their smartphones!

Provide opportunities

Being able to wear jeans every day, play ping-pong, and get beer from the break room fridge matter less than you’d think. According to Gallup, an informal work environment and a fun place to work aren’t even in the top 5 factors millennials are looking for. The number one thing they’re looking for? Opportunities to learn and grow. Millennials want to care about what their company does. They want interesting work, and they want to be able to advance in their career. While I’m sure the free lunches and on-site yoga studio don’t hurt, they alone are not going to bring in the best millennial talent.

Have great managers

Just behind opportunities to learn and grow is quality of manager/management. Millennials are looking for mentors who can help them advance and be successful in their careers. Plus, bad bosses are one of the most common reasons for leaving jobs, so great managers are just a good idea in general!

Offering more money and fun perks aren’t always the best way to attract recent grads and other young professionals. Keep in mind that if millennials aren’t engaged in their work, they’ll look for a position where they’ll be more interested and happy. And honestly, isn’t it a win for everyone when employees care about their work?