There are seven indexes that determine how "cool" your community is for young talent. And in the race for talent, your community's "coolness" matters more than ever. Research shows that 3 out of four American under 28 say that a "cool community" is as important as a "hot job." This week we talk about the fourth index: After Hours.
There's more to life than work. This index identifies the cool "stuff" to do after 5. Young talent want places to go, things to do, and ways to recharge their intellectual battery.
Adulthood is being pushed back for young professionals. Marriages happen at an average age of 28, as compared with 23.5 for the Baby Boom generation. Single longer, Gen X'ers (b. 1961-1981) are looking for unique places to hang out after work. Not only that, but Naisbitt was right: the higher "tech" our jobs become, the more we need "high touch." Communities that have a diverse array of After Hours spots score well with young talent.
We determine your community's scores in the After Hours index with two sets of data: (1) quantitative (numbers and stats) and (2) qualitative (focus groups.) Here are the things to look and listen for....
Communities with high scores in the After Hours index hear their young talent say things like:
- Let's meet at the new martini bar after work.
- We have several locally brewed beers here.
- You want good coffee? We have that...
- You can go out dancing every weekend if you want.
Note: The Wall Street Journal ran an article recently about "Surfer's Voice," the mindless stream of "uh-huh's"and "hmmmm's" that give away when one party on the call is answering email or surfing the web instead of listing during a meeting.
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