"I should be getting a raise soon!" ~ "I better get a bonus this quarter." ~ "Where is my promotion, I've been here 9 months!"
I spoke to a 21-year-old recent college graduate a couple months back and she indicated to me that she thought upon graduation that she would have gotten an On-Air Radio Personality job because she had gotten her degree in Broadcast journalism. I looked puzzled, wondering why did she think that she would have started immediately upon graduation at the top when her experience clearly rested at the bottom!
In today’s society is anyone really working their way to the top? Does "Generation X" (mid 20's-40's) and the newly titled "Millennials" (newest workers) know how to pay their dues? Or "are we even still in an era of owing them in the first place"?
With reality TV phenomenons like “The Apprentice”, "American Idol" and "America’s Next Top Model" in addition to "who you know and networking circles", hard work and experience are appearing obsolete. There has been a shift from working 60 hours a week and devoting 20 or more years to an employer to graduating college, wanting to be the boss and reaping all the perks that come along with it your first week out of school.
There was a time when interning for free (starting at the very bottom) was the all time success story of working your way up. Remember the inspiring story of young Sean “Puffy” Combs starting as an intern at Uptown Records who is now a “Music Mogul" and "Fashion Icon".
According to the article "Generational Teach Back: What Older Workers and Younger Workers Can Learn from Each Other" on Monster.com younger workers are functioning in the work world with the following ideals:
New Technology: I totally agree with this one, lots of young people are excited by new and futuristic trends - no one has patience anymore, including me. We just want things done, now!
Diversity: Born and raised in San Francisco and going away to college did expose me to different ways of life, theories and work ethic.
Job-Hopping: I know sooo many job hoppers! Younger workers do not share the value of company loyalty with older workers, jumping ship whenever a better opportunity presents itself. Instead of putting in the time, they just look elsewhere.
Risk Taking: Just call us rebels - me normally with a cause, occasionally without one! Younger workers take bigger risks, whether its quitting your job to start your own business - (then you will be the boss), or travelling the world and seeing where you land but always being optimistic. Whoo -today people are a little more gutsier and savvy.
Balancing Work/Life Issues: I love to travel and do things in my spare time. But how much time do we really get to devote to our own agendas. Can you believe the article called young workers "not career driven". Perhaps not - but more so "success-drive".
Fulfilling Dreams: I'm all for fulfilling my dreams! Younger workers want to fulfill their own dreams, and not necessarily those of the company! Often times they are only using the company to further their own objectives.
I still believe there will always be dues to be paid, but they may get cheaper!
Next time, we will examine those who made it to the top, yet know nothing! Be careful what you wish for...
A "tongue-in-cheek" perspective on the corporate world, careers and office behavior.
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