Dive Brief:

• SkillSurvey, an automated reference-check service that helps thousands of clients, published analysis of job seekers under the age of 35—aka, millennials—that revealed just what their bosses had to say about them.
• Checking in with about 28,700 references, according to Forbes, SkillSurvey found that millennials are generally characterized as eager, dedicated and possessing strong integrity, despite what the stereotypes like to claim.
• But it’s not all good. Millennials scored low in time management, attention to detail, and decision-making. Millennials in finance and engineering fields particularly struggle with staying up to date on trends in their industry.

Dive Insight:

Drilling down into the data, 23% of candidates in sales development and sales management scored low in attention to detail as well as 11.5% of candidates in customer service. They also tend to struggle with presenting information in a compelling, effective way, according to Forbes.

HR professionals may want to keep these numbers in mind when tailoring training for their staffs and, generally, when hiring younger people. Innovation is paramount to this age group, as well as strong communication on new platforms. Smart phone apps, up-to-date messaging tools, and social collaboration are key ways to keep this group involved.