One of the primary complaints about Generation Y is that we exhibit an unparalleled sense of entitlement. If you Google “Generation Y entitlement,” it returns some 57,000 results.

We all know that the truth is not all Millennials are like that - just as it’s the case that not every Baby Boomer has a stellar work ethic. The trick is to find young employees who don’t feel unduly entitled to benefits, pay, seniority, etc.

Many Gen Ys have been given the vast majority of what they’ve ever had. Whether it’s money, a car, praise, or various trophies and awards, they’ve been given these things their entire life, simply for showing up. They didn’t have to sacrifice to get them, they just got them, and there is little anyone can do now to convince them that their attendance shouldn’t guarantee them those treasures.

As working with these people so beautifully illustrates, there is a world of difference between getting something and earning something.

So, when you’re interviewing, ask a potential employee:

“Tell me about a time you earned something. Tell me about what it was, what you did to get it, and what it meant to you.”

If you’ve ever worked to earn anything in your life, you’ll know the difference between an answer from someone who has had to sacrifice and toil to get something he wanted and someone who was handed a prize.

After the potential employee has showed you that he’s acquainted with the concept of earning, ask him this:

“What would you like to earn if I hire you?”

The answer to this question won’t just give you a taste of a potential employee’s ambitions, it will show you what they expect just for showing up, and what they know they will have to earn.

Hire the young people who expect to earn money for their work, not the young people who expect to get paid for showing up.