Does this sound familiar?
"Why do those in the Millennial generation seem to have such a sense of entitlement?"
"Has anyone else noticed the “Paris Hilton syndrome” that is taking over our young people’s brains? The lust and desire for material possessions and fame increases, while the standards of hard work and creativity diminsh."
Gen Y:
Mike: "Older people sometimes laugh when I say I want my job to have meaning.My parents' generation... they often accept that a job is a job. (They) say my generation is spoiled -- I'm spoiled -- because I look for work that means something to me. They were satisfied with the paycheck. I have the luxury of wanting much more."The first comments came from the web. The Gen Y comments are from the transcripts of a series of online focus groups we conducted among young professionals last spring. The general theme was that my job isn't big enough for me, I want more from my job than just a job. Millennials feel prepared to make a difference.Katie:
I feel like i want a lot more out of my work than what my parents generation ever thought of let alone expected. Older men laugh at the idea." Justin:"I often play the work/life balance card to work from my girlfriend's apartment in DC for a day so I can have a long weekend. It is critical to have the balance (between work and life) and I will demand it or find a new job."
Managers interpret this yearning for 'more' as over-ambition and unrealistic expections. The biggest frustration I hear when I speak with managers about their Millennial employees is an inability to meet high expectations on the job. Managers feel pressured to give young workers more responsibility, more praise, more rewards, faster than they feel comfortable. One senior brand agency exec I spoke with last week described his anguish over having to fire a talented and promising young Millennial because he was exhausted by the constant demands for more responsibility that he didn't feel the employee was ready to assume.
One generation's idea of 'spoiled' is another's idea of 'better prepared'. Here's blogger Cliff Mason's response to a review of Ron Alsop's new book, "The Trophy Kids Grow Up." Cliff blogs for CNBC at MillennialMoney.
"We all know the rap about us so-called millennials: we're spoiled, we have entitlement issues, we think we're better than everyone else, we have unrealistic expectations about entering the workforce. Apparently we were coddled too much by our parents and teachers, or at least that's what the baby boomers keep telling me.....At the end of the day the millennial generation is better educated, more adept at using technology, and much more media savvy than generation X or the baby boomers. Maybe we feel superior because we actually are?"I may have to agree with Cliff. At the very least, it's worth giving him and his generation the benefit of the doubt. After all, it may be true!
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It may be true that they (we?... heck I'm 31 and certainly consider myself more of a millennial) are superior than the older generation. It's irrelevant though for those who works in jobs where the old guard is still in charge. The more they feel threatened, the more they will try to constrain. Certainly I over generalize, but it's worth consideration by "millenials". At some point, you have to play by the rules of the game, and understand that because you want it one way, doesn't mean it's going to happen. That's what entrepreneurism is for !
ReplyDeleteTelecommuting, if that is a millinnial whim, *should* be indulged. Gas prices are going nowhere but up and the economy is stinking right now! In fact, more satellite employees should be scattered about. This would increase productivity, decrease cost, be good for the environment, and be a general win for all generations.
ReplyDeleteThe others, they are more questionable and should be taken more on case by case basis.
I think that people who are younger in the generation think that "working within the system to bring down the system" or "playing by the rules of the game" is ridiculous. They've seen people say that but once they get into a job that isn't what they want it beats them down morally until they're eventually doing it because it's a paycheck- they become another paycheck.
ReplyDeleteThe millenials parents pretty much raised them to want jobs that they love. My mom always told me that I should do something that I love even though she didn't do that herself. I think the one way millennials are approaching that is by not going into a broken system that beats them down and takes away their individuality... they're either making their own system or forcing the old one to look at and approach them differently.
I think we can view Millennials in the workplace vs. Boomers in the workplace a lot like we can view Millennials in high school vs. Boomers in high school.
ReplyDeleteWhen most Boomers were in high school, an ambitious Boomer made As and Bs, had chores around the house, might have worked an after school job at a local burger joint or at a friend of a parents' store, and probably participated in a sport or club or two.
An ambitious Millennial in high school looked more like this: straight A's in IB and AP courses, where they are getting college credit, five different extra-curriculars (and probably the president of at least one of them), after-school programs to boost SAT scores, active in sports programs, volunteers on weekends, and probably works at an unpaid but prestigious internship over the summer.
Is it any wonder our generation expects more? We've been pushed to the limits of our abilities since we could stand. And while, yes, while we were younger there was definitely an "everyone gets a trophy" attitude from our parents, by the time most of us got through middle school, that attitude had turned into preparing us for cut throat competition from other people our age who were just as well prepared. We WANT to work, to take on responsibility not just so we can make a lot of money and get special privileges, but also because we want to stay competitive. I think it's ridiculous that so many older employers have all this talent and desire on their hands, and they waste it because it's too much of a hassle for THEM. Who's lazy now, Mr. Drawing-my-paycheck-til-I-can-retire?
Sorry...this hits some serious hot button issues for me. >.<