Does Generation Y Need To Grow Up?

Great post, Jamie! Experience is a threat to innovation, and we constantly need new ideas and people to challenge us so that we can continue to move forward. Lots of people don't like change though of course, but for our economy to prosper, that's the one thing we need.

I'm Gen X and not intimidated in the least by Gen Y. And I don't know a single non-Gen Y person who is. I can appreciate you enthusiasm, but imagine how sad it would be if this is the best you ever got? All your Gen Y magnificence peaked today?

Every generation thinks they know it all when they are your age. Gen Y is not unique in that. In 10 years, you will look back at this post and understand why people who are 10 years older than you got annoyed by it.

I, for one, am thankful blogging didn't exist when I was getting started in my career. I'd hate for there have been a record for my bravado.

If you are collating that is really sad. That isn't even entry level.

@jrandom42 - Did you read the article you just used to back up your point? It's all speculation. It's basically all based on rumors right now. This article from Fortune contradicts the speculative one: http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/fortune/0901/gallery.bestcos_mosthir...

@Rebecca - Experience is a threat to innovation. I love that and I love the post you recommended to me the other day. It's true!

@Andrew - "I think a lot of Gen-Y is taking issue with the amount of time that it takes to gain the respect of our office peers, esp. those in places of management." - Agreed. It seems, though, that based on the criticism I've linked to in my post that management and older office peers might be making it harder to be won over, which is a ridiculous situation to put young workers in. Why not respect until proven otherwise? Why must we be sometimes degraded or treated like children before we even get a task that could PROVE our respect? This whole, WE NEED TO WIN OVER OUR ELDERS, stuff just doesn't work for me. There's a better way to go about it: give respect and get it back. We learned this in, what, elementary school? And, yet, to me, it seems our office peers and management is on some power trip, especially if they read ANY of the news out there criticizing Gen Y. We need to be put in our place? I don't think anyone thrives in an environment where people are demanding respect and trying to put them in their place.

@Emily - "I know some of it is culture or people not being happy they had to pay their dues...but can you honestly tell me they didn't want to bypass that too? " There's a sense of, well I had to do it, so should you! Man, I'm glad this is only in the workforce and not something that carries on into the medical profession. Think of all the treatments that have been invented. "Well, kid, I had to suffer through this illness, so you don't get the vaccine." Ok, no more sarcasm.

But, I agree with you Emily! I don't mind collating or copying or answering phones, just don't treat me like you're trying to teach me some lesson about HARD WORK. Because, ya know, the bright people who are breaking into the workforce, didn't experience hard work in college?

"Companies should be capitalizing on all people with energy who are ready to change the company for the better, not just 'ride this thing out.'" - I could not have said it better myself.

@jrandom42 - Oh, and it's fair for Gen Y to come into a workforce where people are looking at them as pampered, narcissistic, expecting too much, snotty, etc? That's an environment that's setting Gen Y up for success? Come on, putting it all on Gen Y and saying, "show how great you are" is a bit one-sided. I'm ready for the challenge -- I'll work hard and prove myself, but don't make me do it while treating me like a dog asking for a treat.

I think the problem that I and other people who encounter Gen Y have is that often time there is no balance. I appreciate Gen Y enthusiasm, I appreciate the new ideas that you all bring to the workforce, and the demand for work-life balance benefit us all. What I have a problem is the assumption by some (not all) Gen Y'ers that experience = bad, therefore the company would be better off if they just got rid of anyone with more than 2 years of experience who thinks differently then them.

I cannot understand why all involved parties can't look at each other an see value. There is value in fresh new ideas, there is value in experience. If everyone recognized that we'd be better off. So, as much as you criticize boomers and some Gen Xers, be willing to criticize those in your generation who enter the workforce assuming that they know better than everyone else because they are 'young' and 'innovative'.

@Jonathan -- Weirdly, the jobs where I was treated with the most respect were when I was a college student working on campus as a student assistant. And, I truly have not had a lot of bad experiences with being treated disrespectfully. Yet, it only takes a couple of experiences to realize (and understand) that I want to work for a company that recognizes the uniqueness of Gen Y. Awesome you found a job like that, Jonathan! Do they have any openings? ;-)

@The Real Anonymous - "What I have a problem is the assumption by some (not all) Gen Y'ers that experience = bad, therefore the company would be better off if they just got rid of anyone with more than 2 years of experience who thinks differently then them."

I really hope my post didn't seem to articulate that sentiment. I absolutely agree with your comment. I would love to see more people of all generations working together and coming up with innovative ways to solve problems.

"So, as much as you criticize boomers and some Gen Xers, be willing to criticize those in your generation who enter the workforce assuming that they know better than everyone else because they are 'young' and 'innovative'." - That sounds like a good blog post to write on! You should write it! =)

This is a great article. I do think that compared to previous generations, we're a bit more interested in really finding and following our passions rather than just getting a 9 to 5 to pay our bills. I think that's why we job hop so much and never settle for anything less than what we love. And that's why we put so much enthusiasm and passion into our jobs - because we strive to do things that we love, and surround ourselves with our passions daily. I think our passion sets us apart, and I hope we never lose it.

Hmmm, sounds like that article is not specific to gen Y, but more to those who are young and are just starting out. Often it takes a while to find a common language with previous generations. It's just a process of proving yourself, being able to communicate clearly, and not to lose your identity in the meantime.

Keep up the enthusiasm

But unless you have taken a few Psych courses don't forget:

People are resistant to change - some of those 'bosses' worked for 10 years before even being permitted to shake hands with their boss.

They remember 'mandatory' 6PM Friday meetings

They remember 8 hours of work dumped on your desk at 5PM Friday for completion by Monday morning.

Resistance to change is a human thing - we all have to work through it.

Those old bosses also have to balance that 'your professional lives' means 2 years or less - so long term success for the Organization has to be factored in.

Notice that in your entire post - did you ask 'what you can do for your country, rather than what your country can do for you'

(to paraphrase JFK)

@Andrew Norcross - "Respect is earned, never given." Except when it's your boss, right?

But shouldn't it be about quality of experience, not just time? There are many people who spend a long time doing the same thing everyday. Not to say there aren't life lessons, but if you have the opportunity for the variety, isn't that more valuable?

I have one blanket rebuttal for everyone that is talking about experience and how much it means. Have we forgotten that we elected Obama into office? By the standards set here by many a critiquing commenter, McCain should be our President. Experience trumps enthusiasm! Experience trumps passion! Well, damn, guess Obama's really gonna tank it for us, huh?

We believe in hope and change and the ability for someone young (Obama) to change the world. Yet, there are so many people refuting my argument here, saying I need to tone down the confidence and sort of... sit in a corner and respect my elders. If Obama, the man who I'm guessing most of us Brazen folk are counting on, listened to all of these comments, he wouldn't be our President. If Obama can change the world, why can't I?

Don't try so hard to extinguish my flame.

This is a fantastic discussion you are having. I'm immersed in researching a new leadership model for incumbent managers to learn how to adapt to Gen Y and this blog is faboo! If I can put this in the simplest form, I think all generations need to have a sense of self as well as a sense of their place on this planet before we can all work together in harmony. Due to various events we each experienced growing up, our values differ which is not a bad thing, just like diversity isnt a bad thing. The problem I see is that right now there are more of 'them' the older work peers than there are of 'you' in the workplace at present and each group has predominantly not gotten their egos in check yet and embraced all the wonderful things this generational diversity can contribute to the workplace. I do think the incumbent managers need to alter their behavior moreso than Gen Y because frankly, Gen Y in the workplace just doesnt have as much experience which is OK! Mutual respect and an understanding of all the different values and talents we each have will help us prevail and prevail we will...unless we want to be secondary to other countries...

Whether you can see it or not, it is a generational thing. Economic conditions, world affairs, and the number of people in each generation made people of different generations adapt to change or workplace dynamics in different ways. The boomers are so large in number they became a survival of the fittest group so they could make enough money to provide your generation (their kids) with everything they possibly could. And right now the boomers are struggling with managing this group so it is my belief that it will help if they take the time to understand where Gen Y is coming from. Unfortunately, probably most of them don't want to take the time to understand the Gen Y whiners.

I'm a corporate veteran and have managed a few Millennials in my time so here's my two cents. When I was your age I tryed to avoid joining the corporate world. I was anti-establishment but I also believed that "in order to beat the establishment, you must first become a part of it." Over time, I actually enjoyed working in the corporate world and thrived in it. I didn't try to reinvent the wheel right away but as I moved up the ladder, I was able to inject my own ideas and attitudes into the workplace.

What I'm saying to Gen Y is keep up your great enthusiasm but don't expect people in the workplace, especially older people, to compromise and do things your way. The boss is the boss and the employee is usually the one who has to compromise, whether we like it or not. If your boss had to pay their dues, they'll probably expect the same from you. One of my bosses once said to me, "You have to change, I'm not going to change." I didn't like to hear this but he was the boss and in the end, he had the power.

If you do want to change things in the workplace,take small steps. Go for the small victories rather trying to win a big battle right away. I once had a twentysomething work for me who, as a new employee, had criticized a project we had worked on but offered no suggestions on how to make it better. That project earned our company a lot of money but all she did was create conflict because she thought she knew it all. Change takes time. Be patient and it will happen.

@ Andy - sorry your life turned out the way it did. I decided that no one was going to tell me what to do and now I trade ETFs and futures from my laptop anywhere.

I am 25 and laugh at those who still "trade time for money". I just trade for money and do it quite well. 2008 was a year of printing money shorting the market. Anyone who cared could have become as rich as I did.

But, to each their own!

Here's a clue:

If you're getting treated like a child by more than a few people, you are probably deserving of the treatment. These things aren't accidents.

By the way, many in Gen Y have grown up already. They have jobs they like, they are creating companies, they are moving up in organizations, their supervisors love their work, their clients love their work... what's the common thread here?

All of the Gen Yers who have grown up are doing things. They are bringing value to someone instead of making arguments that they have the potential to bring value. That's why some can move from job to job without worries while others just complain about not being able to hop from job to job.

The guy from Facebook? He did something.

The guys that run this site? They did something.

And they faced people who doubted them or tried to act as road blocks. That's how it works when thousands of businesses fail every year.

The people who have grown up are demanding respect by demonstrating that they are worth respect. They need to demonstrate their ideas are good before their ideas are respected. They don't have to ask for it or make impassioned pleas for it because they demonstrate value, overcome objections and execute well.

i'm 28, with my own business and a few employees (28,27,42). so. i'm a boss now.

but, a couple years ago i was at a big insurance company. so i've been on both sides of the coin.

If a 22 year old came in to my company with the arrogance and whining that is the subtext of your rant(and was also my attitude when i was younger though i did not realize it), they would be quickly dismissed.

no one wants to squash your enthusiasm, but those who are thirst to learn from their elders get much farther than those who presume to teach.

@Anonymous - "If a 22 year old came in to my company with the arrogance and whining that is the subtext of your rant." -- So, you would rather hire a 22 year old who is timid and impressionable? Man, I've grossly underestimated the workforce. Here, I thought someone who had ideas and passion and determination and confidence would actually be welcome. You're right, I DO need to be put in my place.

@Olivia - "I also agree, as someone said, that there are significant differences within generations as well, and lumping Gen Y into a homogeneous group is wrong." - Well, of course there are differences, but most people write about the majority. You can't possibly write about a group and expect to include everyone in the group; there will always be outliers.

Interesting discussion, full of ego and enthusiasm.

A few thoughts, if you don't mind:

a) People are hired to fill positions. Just as some folks, whether they are GenY or Boomers (like myself), want to know what's in it for them, the firm cares about what's in it for them. If you don't read the job description, oops... your bad.
b) People are entitled to careers. You need to ask when you interview where the career path leads and how the company's goals mesh with yours. While it is fine to try to push the envelope in terms of the timeframe, enthusiasm and drive can easily come off as pushy and impatient.
c) If the cultural fit is wrong, sure, go change jobs or start your own gig. Corporate life isn't for everyone (heck, most of the time I don't think it's for me). There are lots of firms that don't get a lot of things, like adapting to change or valuing their staff properly. GenY just has their own axe to grind, but it's not the only one waiting for the whetstone.
d) Enthusiasm does not equal competence. Not everyone is talented, regardless of age cohort. Like others have said, prove your competence at things the company wants done to get the bite at the gigs you want. My suggestion, if you want your "radical" ideas heard, is do the stuff no one else wants to do - you buy a lot of political capital by doing that.
e) Let's admit that expecting to change the world (or even your department) in the first year is grossly unrealistic. You may not like it - fine! But there are internal politics to navigate, personalities to understand and adapt to, and corporate culture to figure out an appropriate strategy for. Just because your wants, desires and strategies are "better" in your mind doesn't mean that they are "better" for your firm at this time.

Jamie made the Obama reference, so let me piggyback on that. Obama, if you've been reading carefully, is a careful centrist (left of centrist, perhaps) - he's no radical. An old chestnut from Otto Von Bismarck is "politics is the art of the possible." Change is possible - in your career, in your firm, in your industry, in the world. But it never comes as fast as we want it. That doesn't make the situation evil (it takes 2 4-year terms to hit that level, as we all found out so clearly..). So, agitate for change, respectful of the capacity for acceptance. And if you can't adapt to some middle ground... well, that's what makes the world go round.

Eric

@jamie
@Anonymous - "So, you would rather hire a 22 year old who is timid and impressionable?"

false dichotomy - timidity is not in the equation. a thirst to learn is. it is THE quality.

As a Xer doing my Ph.D. on GenY (or Nexters, or EchoBoomers, or Millennials) - Thank you! to all of you blogging here. The insights have been tremendous and very helpful. I have a soft spot for GenY – I see myself in you when I was young…

As a Xer manager of GenY employees (while at the same time being managed by Boomers) I feel stuck in the middle of a cat fight.
My young GenYers are in the face of my Boomer bosses to the point where two GenY employees were terminated by my Boomer VPs. That was 6 months ago, we (the GenY kids and I) are still in touch, and they still haven’t found another job. Another case in point – I have one summer internship open and 327 applications! In the past (10 years ago) I was happy to get 10 applications. What is happening?
The first major wave of GenY is hitting the job market and it is not looking good.
It’s a numbers game - 80 million Boomers are relying on 46 million GenXers to keep the biz going. So, we downsize, ship jobs oversees, hightecherize (belive me, GenX can rock the high tech – we have no choice, our livelihood depends on it), streamline and presto – 46 million of us are basically running the show and now we have 80 (!!) million GenYers hitting, or about to hit, a job market created for less than half the number of people.
It is being predicted that GenY will face the same competitive pressures the Boomers felt when they entered the job market back in the day.
What did that pressure do to the Boomers? Well, they worked their butts off to be as valuable as possible to the company. Worked weekends, vacations, 60 hour weeks just for the privilege of getting to keep their jobs. That will do something to a person. It really does.
And – now my GenY employees are running scared. I now see them working past their 8 hours per day, I get pinged on weekends for help as they are working on a project to be ready for Monday and I get asked what they need to do to keep their jobs. How can they add to their skill set to be more valuable, where can I deploy them where they add value.

When I was young (great song btw.) I had the same enthusiasm, optimism, strength of will, confidence and righteousness I read in these blogs. And now I’m 40+ and I look back and think “what happened”?
I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you what my dad told me a long time ago and I now understand to the point I call him late at night and ask if every generation goes through the same 'aha' moment? Paps is 81 and my wise guiding light. Yes, my dear, it's called life he tells me and chuckles.
Life happens. Life ain’t grand. Life is a grind. We eek out those precious hours of happiness and we live for them.

When I was young, it seemed that life was so wonderful,
a miracle, oh it was beautiful, magical.
And all the birds in the trees, well they'd be singing so happily, joyfully, playfully watching me.
But then they send me away to teach me how to be sensible,
logical, responsible, practical.
And they showed me a world where I could be so dependable,
clinical, intellectual, cynical.

Jamie,

I'm a Boobmer (or actually, a tweener) and you've said some things that I find disturbing. "Experience is a threat to innovation. I love that and I love the post you recommended to me the other day. It's true!" This statement tells me that you don't have perspective. Experience can also be a catalyst for change, because the experienced person may know the "how" of implementing a new idea. The fact that you whole heartedly make gross generalizations make me question your critical thinking skills, which in turn would make me hesitant to give you the bigger challenges you want.

I'm also worried by several other statements: "It's about discussion and some may say that blogging IS an action step" This may be true if talk is to determine an action. But you've heard of the saying "all talk and no action". Many times a blog can be just that. In the end, it is about achievement and bringing value to the company. The company is there to make money, which means you have to help them get there. If you're not doing that, you are of no value to them.

As far as your talk about potential - I can take you to any park bench in any city and show you drug addicts and alcoholics that never fulfilled their potential. So potential by itself doesn't interest me. If you want to impress me you'll show me what you've done with your potential so far - a track record of achievement. If your core attitude shows that you've been a good steward of what you've been given so far, you will most likely be a good steward of bigger things in the future.

Let me first start off by saying that I don't think that Millennials will be able to solve every problem. Putting a whole generation on a pedestal will only cause disappointment in the long term. However, I have a big problem with people saying that what we are striving for (a more dynamic workplace, a realignment of work and life, prioritizing personal growth, revolutionizing the capitalistic system) is impossible. Right now, the generation is just entering the workplace, and to say that they haven't proven anything is solely because we have not yet had a chance. So far though I would have to say that we are looking very good. How many young CEO's have you seen in the press from Facebook to Method disrupting the old order of things. In fact, the Wall Street Journal has shown that for the first time in history people aged 18-25 are starting companies at a faster rate than 35-45. Now that to me sounds like a pretty promising statistic given that much of America's success over the years has come from entrepreneurs.

Second, the whole outsourcing idea is getting a bit overblown. I agree that the production costs are much cheaper in these countries, but as both the authors of Finding Keepers (written by some of the executives at Monster.com) and the War For Talent (written by McKenzie & Co.) show that outsourcing is reaching its peak. Eventually, the costs associated with outsourcing actually make it more expensive than hiring the talent here, and the Finding Keepers book predicts a leveling off of outsourcing over the next 5 years.

Finally, there are way too many people and 'experts' saying that we are an entitled, 'trophy' generation. Even though these thoughts run rampant in the media, they are simply not true, and only one or two have ever conducted a sizable, scientific study on our generation. In response I would like to add some actual data to the conversation that details how Millennials are as loyal as older workers, and how they work as much as their older counterparts (against the lazy stereotype).

Article on millennials and how they are engaged at work:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080414.wlmillennial...

Survey by PWC that shows Millennials are no less loyal than other generations:

http://www.management-issues.com/display_page.asp?section=research&id=5342

As movies such as Office Space show us, many people do not like how their current work environment (hierarchal, bureaucratic, and cumbersome). Well, Millennials are offering an alternative, and since the old system is currently crumbling around us, what do we have to lose by taking a chance...After all we can always go back to the corporate America we hate if it does not work.

Obviously, I fat fingered 'Gen-Y' at the end of the last post... LOL

So while I am here, I will throw in one extra comment concerning blogging being action: If blogging for blogging's sake or simply to complain or be heard, then expect just results: be read/heard (maybe) or complained about

If blogging to further a conversation that leads or is planned for action, then again - expect just results. Forwarding conversation, and ultimate action. The question is, are those blogging prepared to put their action where their voice is?

In this regard, I don't think Gen-Y is any different than previous generations. There's always been those who simply talk, those who simply act, and those who do both. I suppose there always will be. It's part of being human.

"
GenerationXpert
http://www.genxpert.blogspot.com/I'm Gen X and not intimidated in the least by Gen Y. And I don't know a single non-Gen Y person who is. I can appreciate you enthusiasm, but imagine how sad it would be if this is the best you ever got? All your Gen Y magnificence peaked today?

Every generation thinks they know it all when they are your age. Gen Y is not unique in that. In 10 years, you will look back at this post and understand why people who are 10 years older than you got annoyed by it.

I, for one, am thankful blogging didn't exist when I was getting started in my career. I'd hate for there have been a record for my bravado.
"

I completely agree. Nicely put.