If you are in the 18-34 year old demographic, you’re a “Millennial”.  Millennials are considered the prize of the market place because they have the greatest “earning power”.

This is true when Millennials have established themselves but starting from ground zero is another matter.  A lot of Millennials want things handed to them.  Call this “affluenza” or indifference. They do not want to EARN their way in life. A recent television interviewer asked the question, “Who should pay your college tuition”? The Millennial responded by saying, “the government”.

During the past 10 years, the number of millennials in the workforce has been steadily rising. In May of 2015, the PEW Research Center calculated that there were 53.5 million Millennials in the workforce, overtaking the number of Gen Xers that are working.

Millennials have spent the majority of their lives in school, and entering the workforce for the first time is intimidating. Many millennials start their careers as the low-man on the totem pole, in entry level positions with meager salaries.

When in an entry-level position, the road to becoming a successful professional can seem treacherous, but with hard work and perseverance, it is possible to be successful both professionally and financially.

Be strongly engaged in your work. Be flexible and open to new ideas.

When working in an entry level position, allow your superiors to see that you’re able to follow through on your work, stay focused on your tasks and be flexible to changes, all of which could greatly impact the way they see you as a professional. You will be viewed as adding “value”.  You will become more “marketable” and in demand.

Be persistent; detours, setbacks and failures are a normal part of success. Learn to view these realities as steppingstones to success. Failure is success turned “inside out” as well as being a necessary prerequisite to success. There’s always that learning curve.

The big project you dedicated countless hours only to be scrapped by your boss. Don’t let it get you down. Brush off the dust, move on to the next task and ask yourself, ‘What can I learn from this experience?’

In addition to professional success, financial success is also important to millennials. In a study done by Money Tips, a personal finance community, it was found that nearly 47% of successful millennials said that saving enough for retirement was their biggest financial concern.

According to this Huffington Post article, one of the main stressors for millennials is money. Additionally, the Keep Good Going Report, a survey of 2,000 Americans, sponsored by New York Life, reports that more than 50% of millennials are dissatisfied with their current financial situation. 

The most effective solution is to stay employed by adding value to your employer as well as to new job opportunities. Be marketable and be in demand and you will “command” a respectable salary with strong earning power.

Keep your resume “MODERN” and live below your means while saving and investing most of your income.

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UPDATED: February 14, 2016