Thoughts of a generation Y graduating senior
1986. Generation Y. I’ve grown up in a fast-paced, ambitious world. At least, this is one perspective. I’ve also grown up in a value-minded, integrity-oriented environment.
Marshall Goldsmith talked to Eric Chestler, president of Generation Why, about generation Y individuals in the workplace. Personally, I find Chestler’s comments a little negative about the development and values my peers and I have. It may be that I am coming from the perspective of someone in generation Y; it may be that my parents brought me up to work hard for what I want out of life; and it may be that I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. But for what it is worth, I think my generation is a little misunderstood.
This is what I’ve seen:
- Many of us are hard workers for the issues and tasks we care about.
- Many of us study all night just to do well on a test.
- Many of us thin ourselves out with activities just to stand out a little more than the other job candidate.
- Many of us work and study, just to alleviate college loans.
- Many of us work unpaid internships and jobs to get the experience required by employers.
I’m not saying everyone in my generation is hard working because I think every generation has individuals that take short-cuts. In fact, I’ve come across peers that join organizations without putting any work in just to stack their resumes. There is some truth to Chestler’s words. I just want to give my view as someone who doesn’t fully categorize herself with the description given.
However, it’s good to know that employers are feeling this way about us. It makes me work harder to prove myself worthy of each position I hold.
*Image courtesy of Flickr: VJ Spectra.
