Frustrated with a Millennial employee? Still think they just aren't "getting it" at work? Why not try assigning a mentor. Mentor's are a great way to engage Millennial students in the work process and help them feel connected to the office. Be sure though that you choose mentors who are patient, willing to participate, and understand the role you are asking of them.
You can also use Millennial's in a reverse mentor role by allowing them to teach other employees about the technology and computer knowledge many of them possess. Tapping in to the areas where Millennials are often experts can show a level of trust and interest in the things they have to offer others in the workplace.
Presentation
I've had many people ask for the presetation that Liz Bushnell and I did today for the Fort Wayne Rotary Club, so I wanted to post the information here as well.
Thank you all for your questions and comments at the meeting!!
Thank you all for your questions and comments at the meeting!!
The Value of Internships for Both Students and Employers
My job provides me with the opportunity to speak with many different employers. Not surprisingly, many of them use internships as a way to hire full time employees. I had expected this trend to decline given the economy, however, it appears to be on the rise (at least from my perspective).
Internships provide employers with an opportunity to "test drive" a candidate before they fully invest in them. This can be especially important in fields where entry level positions maintain a high level of turn over. Students have the opportunity to gain important professional skills before being thrown into the fire of full time employment. It truly is a win-win for employer and student. Even beyond this, it can be much more cost effective to hire an intern than hiring a temporary employee. Plus you have access to someone who is not jaded and burned out by the work environment. Often times, students come in with fresh ideas and an enthusiastic attitude. Of course, if you've read all of the reports about Millennials then you likely already have a preconceived idea of how they will behave and interact in the internship. While some of the things you've heard may be true, many are not. I would recommend using the skills and enthusiasm of student interns to energize your workforce and help you accomplish the things that you need done.
Internships provide employers with an opportunity to "test drive" a candidate before they fully invest in them. This can be especially important in fields where entry level positions maintain a high level of turn over. Students have the opportunity to gain important professional skills before being thrown into the fire of full time employment. It truly is a win-win for employer and student. Even beyond this, it can be much more cost effective to hire an intern than hiring a temporary employee. Plus you have access to someone who is not jaded and burned out by the work environment. Often times, students come in with fresh ideas and an enthusiastic attitude. Of course, if you've read all of the reports about Millennials then you likely already have a preconceived idea of how they will behave and interact in the internship. While some of the things you've heard may be true, many are not. I would recommend using the skills and enthusiasm of student interns to energize your workforce and help you accomplish the things that you need done.
Using Technology to Reach Millennials
It seems like a good idea doesn't it? Recruit Millennials where they are most comfortable. Work within the technology that they are so intertwined with, and use so easily, to introduce them to your company. It's innocent enough. We say we're using it for all the right reasons. It's the way they communicate. It's the way they connect so why shouldn't we be using that as a recruiting tool? There are so many reasons why you shouldn't that I may not be able to name all of them in this blog.
One of the biggest complaints I hear from employers about Millennials is that they are just too relaxed at work. They don't understand professionalism. They can't interact in a business environment. They write emails like they're texting on a cell phone to one of their friends. Well what did you expect? They are being recruited by companies in the their social arena. They are used to being comfortable and laid back. This is where they go to talk to their friends. It's their version of happy hour. But we're upset when we recruit them through a social networking site and then wonder why they can't be professional. We're setting the standards for them by coming into a space that they traditionally have not used for business purposes.
Here's what bothers me the most...I have heard several stories of recruiters who have gone onto candidates myspace or facebook sites and made the decision to not hire them based on pictures or something they see there. I'm not saying that I don't understand. That picture of your potential new junior executive doing the beer bong may be a good enough reason to not hire him. But let's be realistic. We all do stupid things. Especially when we're young. Does that mean we shouldn't get a job because of it? Sometimes yes...I'm just not sure this is the time. Here's my question...what's wrong with the traditional methods we used to use to hire someone? Reference checks, resumes, cover letters, even IQ tests. Why aren't those enough for this generation? They were fine for us and now we're the managers. We turned out okay. The only real difference between traditional background checks and the new technological information age comes down to this...there was just no picture proof of our adventures. Our future employers never saw the hand stand beer bong we did the weekend end before our interview. Did that behavior somehow make you less of a candidate? Less able to do your job? For some people the answer may be yes but for the majority of us, we know how to have a balance and for most Millennials, they do too. I've seen people out at happy hour, having a good time, probably drinking too much, and doing things they shouldn't. But they still get up on Monday, go to work and do a great job. Now I know what you're saying. There are no pictures posted all over the Internet about those weekend adventures. So what? So what if a 21 year old decides to put up pictures that you think he shouldn't. In the scheme of life does it matter. If he can come to work, do the job you expect out of him and be a great employee, what difference does it make?
So here's the point of this whole rant. Let online social networking sites be just that...a place where people can go to talk to other people, share their lives (the good and bad) and leave the recruiting to sites where it makes sense. Don't be the first recruiter or employer who gets sued because of their use of online information to make employment decisions. Trust me, it's coming. There's no way it won't within the next 2 years. The only real question is who will be the first to sue an employer for discrimination. Be careful, use technology wisely and for crying out loud trust that the traditional methods of background checks do their job!
One of the biggest complaints I hear from employers about Millennials is that they are just too relaxed at work. They don't understand professionalism. They can't interact in a business environment. They write emails like they're texting on a cell phone to one of their friends. Well what did you expect? They are being recruited by companies in the their social arena. They are used to being comfortable and laid back. This is where they go to talk to their friends. It's their version of happy hour. But we're upset when we recruit them through a social networking site and then wonder why they can't be professional. We're setting the standards for them by coming into a space that they traditionally have not used for business purposes.
Here's what bothers me the most...I have heard several stories of recruiters who have gone onto candidates myspace or facebook sites and made the decision to not hire them based on pictures or something they see there. I'm not saying that I don't understand. That picture of your potential new junior executive doing the beer bong may be a good enough reason to not hire him. But let's be realistic. We all do stupid things. Especially when we're young. Does that mean we shouldn't get a job because of it? Sometimes yes...I'm just not sure this is the time. Here's my question...what's wrong with the traditional methods we used to use to hire someone? Reference checks, resumes, cover letters, even IQ tests. Why aren't those enough for this generation? They were fine for us and now we're the managers. We turned out okay. The only real difference between traditional background checks and the new technological information age comes down to this...there was just no picture proof of our adventures. Our future employers never saw the hand stand beer bong we did the weekend end before our interview. Did that behavior somehow make you less of a candidate? Less able to do your job? For some people the answer may be yes but for the majority of us, we know how to have a balance and for most Millennials, they do too. I've seen people out at happy hour, having a good time, probably drinking too much, and doing things they shouldn't. But they still get up on Monday, go to work and do a great job. Now I know what you're saying. There are no pictures posted all over the Internet about those weekend adventures. So what? So what if a 21 year old decides to put up pictures that you think he shouldn't. In the scheme of life does it matter. If he can come to work, do the job you expect out of him and be a great employee, what difference does it make?
So here's the point of this whole rant. Let online social networking sites be just that...a place where people can go to talk to other people, share their lives (the good and bad) and leave the recruiting to sites where it makes sense. Don't be the first recruiter or employer who gets sued because of their use of online information to make employment decisions. Trust me, it's coming. There's no way it won't within the next 2 years. The only real question is who will be the first to sue an employer for discrimination. Be careful, use technology wisely and for crying out loud trust that the traditional methods of background checks do their job!
Conversations between Generations
I always find it interesting when different generations sit down to understand each other. I was involved in a training a few weeks ago that asked 4 different generations to answer questions about their generation. It was so interesting to see the differences that we all have but also to see the similarities.
What I found most interesting were the comments that other generations made to Millennials and how Millennials responded. We are always so quick to judge their actions and intentions rather than listening to them. What I learned from the experience is that EVERY generation views the other generations as flawed in someway. Are they flawed? Maybe, but what is more likely is that we don't know how to accept the differences. We become what we saw in our parents. Inflexible and lacking the desire to change. We have done what previous generations did to us...This is how it's been and this is how you'll do it. Maybe things should change. It's fascinating how every generation wants to change the world and to some extent they do. But many times what happens is that the world changes them. Take Gen Xer's for example. They were going to destroy the world as we know it. Lazy, slackers, good for nothing with bad attitudes. Yet here we are and we're the managers. The ones who are responsible and we're taking care of our families. Not exactly the untimely demise of the world that was expected of us.
Boomers, do you remember when your parents thought you dressed provocatively, listened to loud and disrespectful music and were too immature to run the country? It makes me wonder what the Millennials will say to the generation after them. The point is, each generation who enters the workforce is viewed as different and that difference is not viewed in a positive light. So maybe we should take a step back and realize that not every other generation is going to destroy the world we have worked so hard to build. The truth is, we have all built this world and while we should protect it, we should also recognize that change is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it's what keeps us moving and heading toward the future.
What I found most interesting were the comments that other generations made to Millennials and how Millennials responded. We are always so quick to judge their actions and intentions rather than listening to them. What I learned from the experience is that EVERY generation views the other generations as flawed in someway. Are they flawed? Maybe, but what is more likely is that we don't know how to accept the differences. We become what we saw in our parents. Inflexible and lacking the desire to change. We have done what previous generations did to us...This is how it's been and this is how you'll do it. Maybe things should change. It's fascinating how every generation wants to change the world and to some extent they do. But many times what happens is that the world changes them. Take Gen Xer's for example. They were going to destroy the world as we know it. Lazy, slackers, good for nothing with bad attitudes. Yet here we are and we're the managers. The ones who are responsible and we're taking care of our families. Not exactly the untimely demise of the world that was expected of us.
Boomers, do you remember when your parents thought you dressed provocatively, listened to loud and disrespectful music and were too immature to run the country? It makes me wonder what the Millennials will say to the generation after them. The point is, each generation who enters the workforce is viewed as different and that difference is not viewed in a positive light. So maybe we should take a step back and realize that not every other generation is going to destroy the world we have worked so hard to build. The truth is, we have all built this world and while we should protect it, we should also recognize that change is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it's what keeps us moving and heading toward the future.
Millennials at their Best
I have been very encouraged by a group of Millennials I have had the opportunity to work with recently. I work with a program at my job that allows students to participate in summer service opportunities throughout the United States and world. These students remind me of the good that Millennials can do and the impact they want to have on the world around them, and I think they will have an impact. Whether is be one person, one community or one world, they believe that they can do it! Maybe that's the difference between Millennials and everyone else. We just believe that it's too massive of a job to fix the world. They not only believe it is possible, they actively work towards it.
What I find interesting about this is that so many people seen to have such a negative view of Millennials believing them to be lazy and self absorbed. In actuality, they are more world focused and have more going on in their lives than Gen Xer's ever dreamed of. They come wanting to make a difference in the world and believing that it is within their abilities to do so.
Don't know any Millennials? I encourage you to get to know one. Learn about their passions. Their ideas. Wants and desires. Then make decisions about who you think they are!
What I find interesting about this is that so many people seen to have such a negative view of Millennials believing them to be lazy and self absorbed. In actuality, they are more world focused and have more going on in their lives than Gen Xer's ever dreamed of. They come wanting to make a difference in the world and believing that it is within their abilities to do so.
Don't know any Millennials? I encourage you to get to know one. Learn about their passions. Their ideas. Wants and desires. Then make decisions about who you think they are!
Series of Tips for Generational Harmony-Tip 1
One of the biggest problems many employers face are the changes that Millennials bring with them. New technologies, changing work schedules, new ideas...it could potentially make other generations feel pushed aside. It's no wonder there is so much resentment towards Millennials. So how can all generations in the workplace get along and work together towards the common goal of company and employee success? Try having a time where employees can discuss their differences and understand the ways each generation functions and communicates in the work environment. Many times the problems happen because generations do not understand each other. By allowing time for your employees to talk to one another, you are providing the framework for workplace cohesiveness.
Time to let go of our Ego's!
I am constantly surprised by the attitude people take towards Millennials. While some may view it as right on target, I tend to disagree. I heard someone talking the other day about how they felt Millennials were going to ruin the workplace, that their work ethics would cause a major rift in the ability of companies to complete tasks and remain profitable. While Millennials may have a different way of viewing work and performing in their jobs than previous generations, the idea that they will ruin the workplace is absurd. The reality is, for those managers who are utilizing Millennials ideas and energy, they are finding that they are actually improving the workplace.
One example was a story I read of a young Millennial who began working for a staffing company. The owner was appalled that her brand new employee was already telling her how to run her business. And what was her new employee’s suggestion? Put applications online so the company could reach a larger pool of applicants. Ok, I may not be brilliant, but to me that's a great idea. Turns out that the owner eventually let go of her ego (yes, I said it…ego) and decided to try the idea. Guess what, it helped the company reach a new pool of applicants and reduced some of their costs associated with applications.
Another example I heard came from a presentation I attended last week. I'll share more about that presentation tomorrow, but here was the most important thing I heard that day. The speaker shared with the audience that they had recently hired 5 new Millennial employees in his office. He had his reservations when they started making suggestions about things the business could do better. Despite his concerns, they implemented one which saved the company SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. Good thing he let go of his pre-conceived ideas of new hires!
Here's the point of this. We are so quick to dismiss Millennials ideas because we feel like they haven't worked long enough to have any real sense of what it takes to run a business. They haven’t paid their dues the way we had to! That’s old thinking and it’s time we left it in the past and let this new generation make a difference. The reality is that Millennials have some pretty darn good ideas that have the potential to save their companies a lot of time and money. It's time we stopped pushing this generation into the same box that we have placed every other generation. They are different. From the way they dress to the way they share their ideas and lives. We truly need to understand that they are going to change the workplace but not by ruining it. Use their talents and enthusiasm. Listen to their ideas and stop allowing your ego to tell you that no “kid” is going to tell you how to run your business. You hired them to make a difference, now let them!
One example was a story I read of a young Millennial who began working for a staffing company. The owner was appalled that her brand new employee was already telling her how to run her business. And what was her new employee’s suggestion? Put applications online so the company could reach a larger pool of applicants. Ok, I may not be brilliant, but to me that's a great idea. Turns out that the owner eventually let go of her ego (yes, I said it…ego) and decided to try the idea. Guess what, it helped the company reach a new pool of applicants and reduced some of their costs associated with applications.
Another example I heard came from a presentation I attended last week. I'll share more about that presentation tomorrow, but here was the most important thing I heard that day. The speaker shared with the audience that they had recently hired 5 new Millennial employees in his office. He had his reservations when they started making suggestions about things the business could do better. Despite his concerns, they implemented one which saved the company SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. Good thing he let go of his pre-conceived ideas of new hires!
Here's the point of this. We are so quick to dismiss Millennials ideas because we feel like they haven't worked long enough to have any real sense of what it takes to run a business. They haven’t paid their dues the way we had to! That’s old thinking and it’s time we left it in the past and let this new generation make a difference. The reality is that Millennials have some pretty darn good ideas that have the potential to save their companies a lot of time and money. It's time we stopped pushing this generation into the same box that we have placed every other generation. They are different. From the way they dress to the way they share their ideas and lives. We truly need to understand that they are going to change the workplace but not by ruining it. Use their talents and enthusiasm. Listen to their ideas and stop allowing your ego to tell you that no “kid” is going to tell you how to run your business. You hired them to make a difference, now let them!
Research Project
I am currently working on a research project on Generational Differences. It will focus on a varity of issues but will have an element directed specifically to the workplace. I am hoping to get 1000 responses by the end of summer. I will have it posted here and would appreciate your help in getting to my goal. My plan is to use the information to help employers understand where the potential problems may be in the workplace as different generations of employees attempt to work together. I should have the survey link up in a few months.
What would a Millennial Office Look Like?
Wanna know what an all Millennial office would look like? Check out this video made by a company called Connected Ventures. Very successful online company that has made its Millennial owners VERY rich! I'm sure for many of you, this kind of environment would scare you. This is during a normal work day. No one in the company is over 31 years old. Most average around 25. It's very entertaining!! (There is some language just so you are aware!)
http://vimeo.com/173714
And yes, they use this to recruit for their company!
http://connectedventures.com/
http://vimeo.com/173714
And yes, they use this to recruit for their company!
http://connectedventures.com/
Millennials at their Greatest-Part 1
Thursday evening I had the pleasure of listening to a highly successful Millennial speak to one of my classes. He had the most amazing story. I am hoping to interview him and incorporate some of what he says into the presentation I do with Liz Bushnell about how generations can get along in the workplace. Here is some of what Zach said that I think so completely relevant to generational differences.
Zach started a website with his friends while he was in college. Initially the goal was to have enough money to get through school. That turned in to a full fledged business. They grew from 4 partners to 60 employees in 2006. What I thought was interesting was everyone in the company was 25 and under EXCEPT for one person who is 31 because they needed an accountant. I really thought that was interesting. They were working in an almost all Millennial company. It looked exactly like what you would expect from a Millennial company. Ping Pong table, no official work titles, music videos and drinking. And yet, here was a company that is so successful, they were able to sell half of the company for $40 million dollars. Did you catch that? A Millennial company that would make every other generation cringe made it's owners (all 25 and under) Millionaires!!
I think the key point that gets lost when Millennials enter the work force with so many ideas is that, they actually have some pretty great ideas. So for those of you in other generations, don't just dismiss the ideas as naive, but accept that sometimes they may actually have something!
Zach started a website with his friends while he was in college. Initially the goal was to have enough money to get through school. That turned in to a full fledged business. They grew from 4 partners to 60 employees in 2006. What I thought was interesting was everyone in the company was 25 and under EXCEPT for one person who is 31 because they needed an accountant. I really thought that was interesting. They were working in an almost all Millennial company. It looked exactly like what you would expect from a Millennial company. Ping Pong table, no official work titles, music videos and drinking. And yet, here was a company that is so successful, they were able to sell half of the company for $40 million dollars. Did you catch that? A Millennial company that would make every other generation cringe made it's owners (all 25 and under) Millionaires!!
I think the key point that gets lost when Millennials enter the work force with so many ideas is that, they actually have some pretty great ideas. So for those of you in other generations, don't just dismiss the ideas as naive, but accept that sometimes they may actually have something!
Sound Familiar?
Ok, so for all you Baby Boomers and Gen Xer's out there...tell me who this sounds like;
•Looking for meaningful work
•Seeking challenge
•Chance to prove themselves and show they can perform well
•Enjoys contact with people
•Desire to be in a position of responsibility
•Resents being looked at as though they have no experience
•Tends to be more job mobile
•Less respectful of authority
Sound like a familiar generation? Did you say Millennials? Something tells me you did. Would you be surprised to know that these characteristics were taken from the Training and Development Journal, November 1970? Yes that's right 1970!!
Now you may be asking yourself, what's the point of this? The point is (are you ready for this cause it's going to blow your mind); every new generation that enters the workplace is viewed as different from the previous generations. They are always looked at as lazier, wanting more while doing less, less respectful of authority, wanting responsibility and wanting to be respected for their knowledge. Millennials are viewed no differently than Baby Boomers were in 1970 when this was written. Gen Xer's, we were viewed as the downfall of America when we started working. So what is the reality here? Are new generations different from previous generations? The answer is yes, they are. They come in having grown up in different times, with different values and problems to deal with. The key is though, that they aren't really viewed any differently. It's something different and that scares us in the workplace. We get so caught up in the "this is the way it's always been done and you'll do it that way too" mentality that we forget that we were just like Millennials. We all entered the workforce wanting to make a difference. Wanting our ideas heard. Wanting respect. Knowing that we had something to offer if someone would just listen to us. But something happened along the way. We got caught up in the same mentality we hated when we started. We feel it's our right to do the same thing to the next generation because it was done to us and if we had to live with it, so should they! WRONG! If we are going to be competitive in the new global marketplace (whether you view your organization as a global company or not, it is thanks to the internet), we must use the talents and ideas that Millennials bring with them. The truth is, with the Baby Boomers set to retire in mass numbers over the next few years, we need them. And Xer's we are going to need to take a step back and remember what it was like to enter the work force with all these ideas. Don't squelch them. Encourage them and use what they have to better your companies.
For Millennials, you're going to need to realize that you DON"T know everything and you won't be president of the company. But that shouldn't stop you from trying to make a huge impact on your organizations and the world!
•Looking for meaningful work
•Seeking challenge
•Chance to prove themselves and show they can perform well
•Enjoys contact with people
•Desire to be in a position of responsibility
•Resents being looked at as though they have no experience
•Tends to be more job mobile
•Less respectful of authority
Sound like a familiar generation? Did you say Millennials? Something tells me you did. Would you be surprised to know that these characteristics were taken from the Training and Development Journal, November 1970? Yes that's right 1970!!
Now you may be asking yourself, what's the point of this? The point is (are you ready for this cause it's going to blow your mind); every new generation that enters the workplace is viewed as different from the previous generations. They are always looked at as lazier, wanting more while doing less, less respectful of authority, wanting responsibility and wanting to be respected for their knowledge. Millennials are viewed no differently than Baby Boomers were in 1970 when this was written. Gen Xer's, we were viewed as the downfall of America when we started working. So what is the reality here? Are new generations different from previous generations? The answer is yes, they are. They come in having grown up in different times, with different values and problems to deal with. The key is though, that they aren't really viewed any differently. It's something different and that scares us in the workplace. We get so caught up in the "this is the way it's always been done and you'll do it that way too" mentality that we forget that we were just like Millennials. We all entered the workforce wanting to make a difference. Wanting our ideas heard. Wanting respect. Knowing that we had something to offer if someone would just listen to us. But something happened along the way. We got caught up in the same mentality we hated when we started. We feel it's our right to do the same thing to the next generation because it was done to us and if we had to live with it, so should they! WRONG! If we are going to be competitive in the new global marketplace (whether you view your organization as a global company or not, it is thanks to the internet), we must use the talents and ideas that Millennials bring with them. The truth is, with the Baby Boomers set to retire in mass numbers over the next few years, we need them. And Xer's we are going to need to take a step back and remember what it was like to enter the work force with all these ideas. Don't squelch them. Encourage them and use what they have to better your companies.
For Millennials, you're going to need to realize that you DON"T know everything and you won't be president of the company. But that shouldn't stop you from trying to make a huge impact on your organizations and the world!
Great Books about Millennials
I just checked out a book that I had heard a lot about. It is definitely living up to my expectations. The name of the book is Millennials Rising, The Next Generation by Neil Howe and William Strauss. If you are looking for good insight into this generation, it is an excellent resource. What I really like about it is the positive way it looks at Millennials. We are always so quick to discuss the negative elements about this generation and it turns out based on research that there are many misconceptions about them.
For you Millennials out there, I found a good book (or at least it seems good so far). It is called My Reality Check Bounced, by Jason Ryan Dorsey. Jason is a Millennial who wrote the book to address many of the questions and concerns he sees from young people disillusioned by work and their lives. He was the winner of the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award and speaks regularly to young adults to help them understand the "real" work world. I recommend reading this if you are struggling with your place in work, life and the world around you. He seems to have great insight and fun to read writing style.
For you Millennials out there, I found a good book (or at least it seems good so far). It is called My Reality Check Bounced, by Jason Ryan Dorsey. Jason is a Millennial who wrote the book to address many of the questions and concerns he sees from young people disillusioned by work and their lives. He was the winner of the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award and speaks regularly to young adults to help them understand the "real" work world. I recommend reading this if you are struggling with your place in work, life and the world around you. He seems to have great insight and fun to read writing style.
Conversations with a Millennial
Last week I had the opportunity to have a short conversation with a young lady who was most definitely a Millennial. She works for a government agency that handles employee policies and procedures. She received her master’s degree prior to entering the workforce and seemed to describe her first few weeks on the job the same way other Millennials have. I asked her if the job was what she expected it to be. She said that she really thought that people would listen to her ideas more. In fact she was a little disheartened by comments like “that’s the way we’ve always done it” and “you still have a lot to learn”. Oh my, I wonder how many employees have said that to a young person just entering the organization. She said she learned that she did still have a lot to learn and she understands that the process better now, but still feels as though she has a lot to offer and wishes that her ideas were given some merit.
I think this is a very familiar scene in many companies. “It’s always been done that way” seems to be the typical response to new ideas. But I wonder why there is such a resistance to listening to new ideas and implementing some change in an organization. I’m not sure the always been done that way excuse is going to be adequate as we move into a more global marketplace. That attitude may just keep us from being competitive.
I think this is a very familiar scene in many companies. “It’s always been done that way” seems to be the typical response to new ideas. But I wonder why there is such a resistance to listening to new ideas and implementing some change in an organization. I’m not sure the always been done that way excuse is going to be adequate as we move into a more global marketplace. That attitude may just keep us from being competitive.
Great Video
Last year PBS ran a documentary about Millennials in the workplace. I found a short clip on YouTube that I’m posting here but I recommend that you view the entire video. It’s great information about this generation and what their expectations are when they enter the workforce. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=y_jB1Q0K5BI
To learn more about this documentary, visit
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/generation-next/airdates.html
To learn more about this documentary, visit
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/generation-next/airdates.html
Generational Differences at Work
I am very often asked by employers to explain the Millennial generation to them. If you've done any sort of research on the subject, I'm sure you've seen the large volumes of information on this subject that are coming out regularly. It seems a lot of people are asking the same questions...What does this generation really want? More importantly, what are they willing to do to get it? I think the answer wil surprise you!
I have the opportunity to regularly interact with students (Millennials) because of my job. I find them to be a highly engaging and enthusiastic group. In fact, I love working with them. Since I deal mostly with helping students find internships, I get a unique perpective as I help students shape their professional persona.
So here are the surprises I mentioned earlier...Millennials want what every other generation wants. They want a job that they can feel has an impact on something bigger than themselves, they want to make a fair wage (many of you will say that they expect to much), they want to be respected and heard in the workplace, and they want a balance between work and life that allows them to go to work and then come home and have a totally separate life. Now here's what you've all been waiting for...we're just like them! There isn't a single generation who has not wanted these things. The only real difference between Millennials and other generations, they're willing to ask for it and expect it. I think we all entered the workforce with these ideas. The problem is we were shot down as soon as we entered. We quickly assimilated into the mentality that you must work and you will hate it but you have to do it any way because everyone else has done it that way. Why do we think that way? Really this is the whole purpose of this blog, to help us understand each other and learn how to create a workplace that allows everyone to have a voice and be understood. I'm not saying that Millennials don't need to adjust their thinking a little but I keep asking myself, are they really that wrong?
We'll explore these issues and questions throughout this blog. I will use a lot of my experience with Millennials to help you understand why they think the way they do. Your feedback will always be welcome. By no means do I have all the answers about how to have a harmonious workplace where every generation respects each other. What I will do is present you with ideas and "what if's" to see if we can bridge the gap between the four generations that now make up the workforce.
I have the opportunity to regularly interact with students (Millennials) because of my job. I find them to be a highly engaging and enthusiastic group. In fact, I love working with them. Since I deal mostly with helping students find internships, I get a unique perpective as I help students shape their professional persona.
So here are the surprises I mentioned earlier...Millennials want what every other generation wants. They want a job that they can feel has an impact on something bigger than themselves, they want to make a fair wage (many of you will say that they expect to much), they want to be respected and heard in the workplace, and they want a balance between work and life that allows them to go to work and then come home and have a totally separate life. Now here's what you've all been waiting for...we're just like them! There isn't a single generation who has not wanted these things. The only real difference between Millennials and other generations, they're willing to ask for it and expect it. I think we all entered the workforce with these ideas. The problem is we were shot down as soon as we entered. We quickly assimilated into the mentality that you must work and you will hate it but you have to do it any way because everyone else has done it that way. Why do we think that way? Really this is the whole purpose of this blog, to help us understand each other and learn how to create a workplace that allows everyone to have a voice and be understood. I'm not saying that Millennials don't need to adjust their thinking a little but I keep asking myself, are they really that wrong?
We'll explore these issues and questions throughout this blog. I will use a lot of my experience with Millennials to help you understand why they think the way they do. Your feedback will always be welcome. By no means do I have all the answers about how to have a harmonious workplace where every generation respects each other. What I will do is present you with ideas and "what if's" to see if we can bridge the gap between the four generations that now make up the workforce.
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