Dana Egerová

University of West Bohemia,

Plzeň, Czech Republic

E-mail: egerova@kpm.zcu.cz 

ORCID 0000-0003-1824-9288

Millennial job seekers' expectations: How do companies respond?

Jiří Kutlák

University of West Bohemia,

Plzeň, Czech Republic

E-mail: kutlak@kpm.zcu.cz 

ORCID 0000-0002-6866-6525

Ludvík Eger

University of West Bohemia,

Plzeň, Czech Republic

E-mail: leger@kmo.zcu.cz 

ORCID 0000-0002-5437-3297

Abstract. This study explores the expectations that Millennial job seekers have regarding their future employment as the economic situation changes. This study also explores to what extent companies in Czech Republic respond to these expectations. The theoretical framework guiding this study is the anticipatory psychological contract (APC). A mixed-method research design is employed using the Delphi method to investigate the expectations of final-year business university students and a content analysis of companies’ profiles. The research was conducted in Czech Republic in the academic year 2018/2019. The results indicate that business students give the highest importance to the factors such as career development, financial reward and work-life balance when searching for an employer. Furthermore, the findings show that companies only partially respond to student expectations and meet them insufficiently, as indicated by their company profiles. The study contributes to the literature on anticipatory psychological contracts by using APC dimensions as a relevant framework to assess the fulfilment of Millennials’ workplace expectations. Moreover, the study provides useful information for companies, HR managers, and recruitment specialists to design and implement effective recruiting strategies.

Received: January, 2020

1st Revision: September, 2020

Accepted: March, 2021

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2021/14-1/3

JEL Classification: M12, M51

Keywords: anticipatory psychological contract, Millennials, workplace expectations, Delphi method, content analysis, Czech Republic