What it is that skilled young adults seek in their workplace

Sammanfattning: Problem- An increasingly globalized world is a cause for highly competitive job markets, making the attraction and retention of young talents increasingly important (Wallace et al., 2014). Additionally, current studies have not been able to successfully frame possible needs and wishes of this cohort towards their future workplaces (Deal et al., 2010). Aim- Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of what these young talents, seek for from a workplace. Method- This study applies a qualitative, and inductive approach, to explore and simultaneously allow new in-depth insights into the study area. Therefore, 13 fictive stories were collected from current, and former students in Sweden. The fictive stories were used to ease the participants into the distancing of themselves from current social structures, and to express their actual needs and wants. Findings- With the findings five major dimensions could be identified, that concerns the study group when picturing a desirable workplace: Workplace structure & dynamics, Validation & acknowledgment, Acceptance and Freedom, Private & Work life balance, and Personal growth and the future. These dimensions further split into issues and seeking’s that concern equality and flat leader style, as well as an inhibited insecurity and the wish for support and acceptance. Limitations- This research is, as all qualitative studies greatly dependent on the researchers’ interpretation of the underlying material. Also, other factors as for example national culture could have possible effects on the outcomes of this study, however efforts were made to discuss the potential influences. Contribution- With the five dimension that were identified in our study, new knowledge on what it is that attracts and motivates young adults in Sweden to a certain company, could be collected. This knowledge might benefit businesses that regard these, when reaching out for new labor force. Also, further studies can be built upon this research, as for example an inductive testing on the applicability in other contexts, or generalizability of the model.