KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., May 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Beyond.com, The Career Network focused on helping people grow and succeed professionally, today announced findings from a national survey conducted among 6,000 job seekers and veteran HR professionals, finding that Millennials (Generation-Y) have a pretty serious image problem.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130528/PH20747-INFO )

According to the Beyond.com survey, while over 84% of Millennial job seekers (age 19-26) are optimistic about finding employment, there are substantial differences in how they view themselves and how HR Professionals perceive them in a variety of categories, including: work ethic, leadership skill, and technological expertise, among others. Most strikingly was the issue of loyalty, where only 1% of HR Professionals felt Millennials would remain faithful to their employer over the long-term. By contrast, 82% of Milliennials self-identified as loyal – underlining the chasm that exists between younger job seekers and HR Professionals that tend to be from later generations.

Some other conflicting viewpoints from the survey included:

Are Millennials Tech-Savvy? 

• ­   86% of HR professionals said yes
• ­   While only 35% of Millennials felt they were tech-savvy

Are Millennials Team Players? 

• ­   60% of Millennials thought they would work well with a team
• ­   But 22% of HR professionals believed Millennials would make good team players

Do Millennials Have Strong Interpersonal Communication Skills?

• ­   65% of Millennials responded that they relate well to others
• ­   14% of HR Professionals thought that Millennials were strong communicators

Are Millennials Hard Workers?

• ­   86% of Millennials identified themselves as hard workers
• ­   11% of HR professionals thought Millennials would work hard

Are Millennials Able to Lead? 

• ­   40% of Millennials identified themselves as leaders
• ­   Only 9% of HR professionals believed that age group had the ability to lead

Are Millennials Loyal to Employers? 

• ­   82% of Millennials self-identified as being loyal to an employer
• ­   A mere 1% of HR professionals believed Millennials to be loyal to an employer

Quotes:
"Until Millennials are able to overcome existing stereotypes, they'll have to work extra hard just to get noticed. Younger job seekers don't have it easy in the current economy, and they've been put in a hole by the generations that have gone before them. Nowadays, it's not good enough to be good enough – Millennials need to match their vision of success with the work ethic that it will take to get there; meaning advanced education, internships and a willingness to go beyond what's expected. With their sense of optimism and ability to innovate, I am confident that their generation will surprise us all."

- Rich Milgram, Founder and CEO of Beyond.com—The Career Network

"This study shows that Millennials have a long way to go in order to prove themselves to HR Professionals. Even though they are perceived as tech-savvy, those abilities may be inhibiting their interpersonal skills, which are more valuable in today's workplace than ever before. Despite these negative perceptions, Millennials remain optimistic about job prospects and that says a lot about their drive and determination. I believe that with the right mentoring and corporate sponsorship this generation will grow into the leaders we need them to be in the future."

- Dan Schawbel, founder of Millennial Branding, Gen Y expert and author of Promote Yourself

About Beyond.com, Inc.
Beyond.com, The Career Network, is focused on helping people grow and succeed professionally. By connecting job seekers and employers through 75 unique career channels and 2,500 industry and regional communities, we are changing the way job searching is done and helping people build relationships around the world. Members have access to powerful communication tools, including the all-new Career Portfolio, a compelling, engaging and visually-informative snapshot of a person's career that can supplement a traditional resume. In addition to a 24/7 online presence, the Beyond.com community benefits from job search functions, statistical data, industry research and networking features that provide an extensive hub for managing a professional's entire career. Beyond.com was named to Inc. Magazine's prestigious 'Inc. 500' list and is a Safeguard Scientifics, Inc. (NYSE: SFE) portfolio company. For more information, please visit: www.Beyond.com.

Contact:
Michael Cavacini
Brownstein Group
(215) 735-3470 x 170
mcavacini@brownsteingroup.com

SOURCE Beyond.com