MILLENNIALS ARE GOOD AT . . .

Multitasking. They have spent their lives juggling school and sports commitments, doing their homework while listening to their iPod and eating on the run. They don’t have a problem taking on several projects at the same time.

Being team-orientated. They socialise in groups and prefer to remain in a team environment than be set individual tasks.

Being technically literate. Technology is as key to their survival as bread and water. In research roles, they quickly triumph because they can tap into sources that longer-serving employees are unaware of.

Thinking globally. The Millennials’ world is more expansive than that of previous generations. Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook have broken down the confines of geography.

Managing their time. “Generation X went through school and university doing what they liked and then cramming for final exams,” says Charles Macleod of PricewaterhouseCoopers. “Millennials have been set weekly and monthly deadlines and are better at managing their workload.”

Demanding work-life balance. Money matters to Millennials, but quality of life matters more. Mark Otty, UK chairman of accountancy Ernst & Young, said in a recent interview with The Times that 30 per cent of the newly qualified accountants who left the firm last year did so simply to go travelling.

Knowing their worth. “They see their career as something they own rather than something the company owns,” says Macleod. “They concentrate on building up their own human capital and then take it to whomever offers them the best opportunities.”

. . . AND NOT SO GOOD AT:

Understanding they might be “bad” at something. According to Tony Schneider, a human resources consultant: “They no longer fail exams, they just get less good grades. They are constantly told how successful they are and they believe their own propaganda. It then comes as a shock when they don’t get the promotion or the place on the exciting project they wanted.”

Having realistic expectations. “Teenagers think that they know everything, and so do graduates,” says Schneider. “Some arrive for interviews saying ‘what can I run?’ They’ve learnt the theory on a business course, but they remain unproven and they have to learn that there is a difference between being smart and smart-arsed.”

Combating a boredom threshold. Studies show that the constant stimuli from video and computer games means that they are quickly bored if they do not have enough going on around them to keep them busy.

Delayed gratification. Everything from their cash cards to computers and the microwaves that cook their supper is designed to speed up their lives. They may then lack patience and perseverance when it comes to goal-setting and problem solving.

Decision making. Mobile phones mean that they have never been truly stranded. Parents or friends are always on speed-dial to help with a problem, which can mean they struggle to make decisions on their own.

Independent thinking. Their parents have showered them with attention and their lives have been overly structured. They are used to constant feedback and many companies are expanding their mentoring programmes to accommodate Millennials in the workplace.

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