I'm reading a book right now called "Not Everyone Gets a Trophy: How to Manage Generation Y" that I wanted to tell you all about. Written by Gen Xer Bruce Tulgan, it discusses some of the misconceptions we may have about those people just entering the workforce and what we can do to help get "Gen Yers on board and up-to-speed - giving them the context they lack, teaching them how to manage themselves" and a whole bunch of other stuff.As a Gen Xer myself, I've often written that we need to stop complaining about Gen Y and start helping them. I think older generations did us a disservice early in our careers that we should not repeat.
6 comments:
I have begged pleaded and cried to get any of the Gen Yer's I've known or met into my field.
Every time it "takes too long" or "it's too hard" or "not my thing".
I've given up on Gen Y. The youngest person I've met in my field is 35. I'm 37.
Posting a profile to Myspace and Facebook, or a video to YouTube does not make one an expert in "technology".
Show me a Millenial that doesn't already know everything, and I'll be happy to mentor.
Joel - What field are you in?
-GenerationXpert
Believe it or not, a subset of IT, networking. Routers, switches, firewalls and other security equipment and the like is what I work on.
It's dry and dull and the equipment is very expensive, but it seems all companies need it done. There are certification tests from vendors like Cisco and Juniper that can really help one get big increases in pay, and I've even offered some of the Gen Yer's I've met to PAY or have the company PAY (as in FREE for employee, or even out of pocket for friends) to go takes these tests if they'll go study.
No takers. Ever. Not once. No dice. The tests are $150.
Like yer blog, I check almost daily!
I really think Gen X-ers will treat the members of Generation Y far better than Baby Boomers treated us (or continue to treat us). Sure a lot of Gen Y-ers do expect to get trophies just for breathing, but I have met many hard working, smart and creative Gen Y-ers. I just hope these kids don't screwed over like we did. However, Joel, I'm sorry you've had to deal with a lot of crap from some Gen Y-ers.
Suzanne, I want to let you know that I added you to my blog roll and made an announcement, too. Like you, I'm a Gen X-er so I'm always interested in reading about generational issues. Keep up the great work.
so make sure you share the good bits with us via your blog - ta le
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