Values and workplace expectations of young graduates in the private sector

Understanding the values and workplace expectations of young South African graduates, referred to in this study as Millennials, is vital for the future success of organisations. Organisations gain a competitive advantage by attracting, engaging and retaining top talent. Millennials are not always positively received in the workplace, due to the prevailing stereotypes held about this group. However, the Millennial generation has an important role to play in the workplace, both in contributing towards organisational success, and as future leaders. A greater understanding of this generation, more particularly in terms of their values and workplace expectations, is thus necessary for ensuring effective talent acquisition and management strategies. The aim of the study was to identify the values of Millennials, both within their personal and working lives. This is important; as individuals take their values into the workplace. Secondly, the expectations that Millennials have of their employers and workplaces in general was explored. With this understanding in mind, the purpose of the study was to advise organisations on how to better prepare for and accommodate Millennials’ values and workplace expectations, in order to enhance their role in contributing towards organisational success, as well as contributing towards their levels of engagement and job satisfaction. The study adopted a qualitative and phenomenological research design. The sample comprised eight young South African graduates working within the private sector, and residing in Port Elizabeth, within the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, who possessed an undergraduate tertiary qualification, and held at least one year’s work experience. It was further required that the participants fall within the Millennial generational cohort, aged between 22 and 30 years. The sampling technique used was non-probability purposive convenience sampling. One-on-one semi-structured interviews formed the data-collection instrument; and thematic analysis was used for the data processing and analysis. Congruence was identified between the values and the workplace expectations of young South African graduates in the private sector through the semi-structured interviews and the literature review; and between the identified values and the workplace expectations of the eight participants. This study contributes towards the field of knowledge used in describing the nature of the values and the workplace expectations of Millennials; and provides recommendations in terms of workplace implications