In this time of Generational Elitism, it can be difficult to interview and work with people who seem to dislike you based on your generation’s stereotypes. We are all guilty of it, but there are ways that we, as Millennials, can not only prove those stereotypes wrong, but also address the internalized issues in our workplaces. As a Millennial in the job search, I’ve found a few interview talking points that address some negative stereotypes, as well as build upon the good ones. 1. Include your pronouns in your email signature. Personally, as a part of the LGBT+ community, it’s important for me to state my own pronouns because, though I have a typically feminine name, I sometimes go by Lee, so announcing that I go by “she/her/hers'' in emails is important for efficient communication. But more importantly, it opens the door for Non-Binary, Trans, or otherwise Non-Cisgendered coworkers to feel comfortable telling me their desired pronouns. It’s a small gesture, but sometimes the little things are the most vital in creating an accepting workplace. This action directly confronts the idea that Millennials are incredibly "Politically Correct." While it feeds this stereotype, it begins the conversation about an accepting, modern, forward-thinking workplace, and if an interviewer has a problem with that, they're waving a gigantic red flag in your face. 2. Ask about Gender Dynamics and HR Initiatives relating to Gender Equality within the company. According to a 2015 Earnst & Young case study, more often than not, companies (or leadership therein) are mostly male. While it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, it is more than reasonable as an interviewee to ask about the actual numbers within the company, and the response you get is twofold. If they don’t know their own numbers, it tells you that it’s not at the forefront of their HR priorities, signaling that gender representation and equality is not important to them. If they do know their numbers, regardless of what they are, it means that their finger is on the pulse of the ever-changing-gender-dynamics in a modern workplace, and therefore they care in some capacity. As a woman, it absolutely must matter to you if your employer is aware of gender equality within their own office. 3. Ask how they addressed the COVID-19 lockdown and what they did to support their employees. If you’re looking for an office job, there is probably a work-from-home protocol for desk employees, and the answer you get should be pretty straightforward. However, if they have a warehouse, a factory, a store, or any other job that might not be WFH friendly, as we have seen, it is more than possible for them to leave their employees spinning in the wind without income. According to data collected by the Economic Policty Institute from a February 2020 study, up to 60% of lower-income workers (not necessarily "essential workers") do not have access to paid time off. These people were left not only without a job, but also without any financial support from their employer. While there might not be a perfect answer here, as not every company has the capacity to pay workers through a six-plus-week shutdown, making sure they tried to take care of their employees is very telling as to how they’ll take care of you as a future employee. 4. Ask about advancement opportunities from the position. Typically, Boomers and Gen X are the ones hiring us, Millennials and Gen Z, and the biggest predisposed idea we face is that we don’t care. In 2019, Akumina released a Millennial Workplace Survey, which gave us a large portion of the data from which stereotypes were pulled, and it does support one of the most misunderstood stereotypes; Millennials like to “Job-Hop,” meaning they spend about six months with a company, then quit and start somewhere else. Many assume it is because we don't care about a career, or because our passions are fleeting, but the reality is that most of us are struggling to find a job that not only has upward mobility for us, but also has meaning. We want to do work that fulfills us and has an impact on our world, and the job market doesn't make that easy. Asking an interviewer about advancement opportunities shows them that you care about building a career and that you are dedicated to your job. Talking openly about the challenges we face in the workplace and how we are working fix them is the first step in building a healthy worker-boss relationship. It can be tricky to navigate, but using these talking points to connect with your interviewer can help you find a job that you love and a company that loves you back.