Generation Y is continuously being discussed in the HR world as a generation that is needy, requiring constant feedback and rewards, and also one that provides and endless fountain of ideas, tech-savvy attitudes, and is an agent of change. Penelope Trunk’s article on “Why Gen Y is Better at Your Job Than You Are” gives glowing praise for all of the illuminating views and actions that our generation brings to the table. As a Gen Y’er myself, I think some of her points are quite valid, and others are blatant attempts to coddle and reassure a group of people who are trying to make it in the workforce.
She begins the article by explaining that Gen Y can teach all of the older folks a thing or two about how to act and react in a job role and then goes on to list point by point, why Gen Y is better at your job than you are. Here is a point by point discussion of her list:
1. Productivity – while Penelope explains that we’re great at multi-tasking and the ability to find information quickly, she neglects to mention that sometimes the quest for more information can go extreme. Yes, we’re good at finding what we need on the interweb…but we’re also so good at multitasking that sometimes we go far, far above and beyond what we needed to in order to find the answer, the solution, or the information needed. The “older generations” can teach us a thing or two about establishing focus.
2. Communication – Sure, we’re on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and all other media…at all times…every minute of the day. My colleague, Justin, states that “As far as their communication skills I would disagree, there is more to communication than writing (which isn’t all that great, LOL, OMG, LMAO and other short blasts don’t always get the job done), when I see a room full of people and they are all texting and tweeting etc instead of talking I disagree that they are superior communicators.” While I agree with Justin that we need to focus on writing, phone skills, and face-to-face communication, I do not agree that we’re all a bunch of tweeting fools that lack these skills! In our business, as a recruiter, these skills are extremely important to hone. They are bread and butter skills for our profession. I can say with full confidence that my Gen Y colleagues are adept at communicating.
3. Career Mobility – here’s where she falls short of the mark. Job-hopping is not what we need to be discussing. What we need to discuss is the pure fact that the jobs our parents had are not the jobs that we are looking at. No longer can we depend on a 30 year career with one company, multiple promotions, a full retirement fund, maybe even a pension plan, and complete security and comfort. These companies have changed. The jobs have changed. The economy has changed. In order to stay competitive in wages and skills, we have to move positions every so often. Yes, Gen Y is likely more comfortable with this fact than other generations, but this is a reality that ALL generations are going to be facing.
4. Career Resilience – Penelope makes the point that Gen Y’ers always have a fall back plan. This is true. I don’t think our fall back plans are always for the reasons she assumes. It is because of our insane need to multitask and the constant flow of ideas that entrepreneurial opportunities arise! As a woman Gen Y’er, I completely agree with Ms. Career Girl (Nicole Grimaldi). In her article “Gen Y Women: Is Crazy the New Normal?” she identifies and explains that our generation seems to try and do everything at once and is completely unable to stop this habit. I think this fact more than anything contributes to the entrepreneurial spirit that allows our generation to have a safety net plan. Between jobs, I started developing my own career services gig, helping people write resumes and cover letters, both for free and for money. I am a very enthusiastic baker, I’m a good healthy food cook, I love making and canning my own jam, and I’m at yoga class as many days as I can each week (props to Hilltop Yoga!). Could these activities be a fall back plan if they needed to be? Sure. I have even done a one-time stunt as a personal cook. Is that my direct intention? Not at all. These are things that I enjoy and they keep my body and mind busy!
The most important take away that “older generations” should get from Gen Y is not that we can do your job better than you are, it is that you should welcome and accept the fact that we are agents of change and allow us to offer ideas and help you build and grow our company. Cindy Janovitz, of Women of HR, says it best in her article “I Am Done Playing Nice,” I am a fire cracker. Let us firecrackers go to work and do what we do best! As trite as it may be, help us help you. All of us have great things to offer each other to the benefit of our workforce.
Emily White is a technical recruiter here at HRU. She was born and raised in Sanford, Michigan and attended Saginaw Valley State University for her undergraduate degree in psychology. Emily is also a graduate of the University of Chicago (social science). She lived and worked in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts for 3 years and recently returned home to Michigan. She loves talking to people. Emily spends her free time going to yoga, visiting friends and family, and experimenting in the kitchen. You can follow her on Twitter @emilytwhiteMI.
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