Comments on: Harnessing the Gen-Y Beast http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/ Pointed Deliberations on Talent, HR, and Getting Things Done Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:57:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Eric Leist http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-366 Eric Leist Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:52:10 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-366 Sylvia, you can be an honorary Gen-Y'er in my book. :) Sylvia, you can be an honorary Gen-Y’er in my book. :)

]]> By: Sylvia http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-363 Sylvia Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:33:25 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-363 Oh my God! I thought I was born into the wrong generation! What does it for me is the flexibility to work from home, wear what I like and be paid for my efforts - because my efforts are damn good! I'm on the cusp of boomer and gen-x - can I be an honorary gen-y'er? :-) Oh my God! I thought I was born into the wrong generation! What does it for me is the flexibility to work from home, wear what I like and be paid for my efforts – because my efforts are damn good! I’m on the cusp of boomer and gen-x – can I be an honorary gen-y’er? :-)

]]> By: Eric Leist http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-305 Eric Leist Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:05:35 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-305 Good discussion. Thanks, Lisa! Good discussion. Thanks, Lisa!

]]> By: Lisa http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-304 Lisa Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:02:44 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-304 At the risk of sounding like a fuddy-duddy (and my mom would roll her eyes here) I'm not sure we Xers went into the work world with a list of demands that included wardrobe. Respectfully entering the workforce, doing our jobs effectively and then turning it on its head from the inside is what enabled us to wear our NIN t-shirts and work from our decks. And I would never encourage anyone to just take any job mainly because I would never offer a job to anyone without the genuine interest and proper skills. I know the Gen Whys evaluate potential jobs with a bit more weight to value of experience than job seekers before and are prepared to walk away if their expectations aren't met but there is a fine line between discerning and egoism. Just be careful out there! At the risk of sounding like a fuddy-duddy (and my mom would roll her eyes here) I’m not sure we Xers went into the work world with a list of demands that included wardrobe. Respectfully entering the workforce, doing our jobs effectively and then turning it on its head from the inside is what enabled us to wear our NIN t-shirts and work from our decks. And I would never encourage anyone to just take any job mainly because I would never offer a job to anyone without the genuine interest and proper skills.
I know the Gen Whys evaluate potential jobs with a bit more weight to value of experience than job seekers before and are prepared to walk away if their expectations aren’t met but there is a fine line between discerning and egoism. Just be careful out there!

]]> By: Eric Leist http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-303 Eric Leist Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:15:44 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-303 Thanks for the enthusiastic response, Lisa. I would argue that the Gen-Y attitudes in this post were built on the ground broken by Gen-Xers. Gen-X had more flexibility and advocated for work-life balance freedom more than any previous generation. Gen-Y isn't breaking ground, we're just building on opportunities created by recent generations. Sure, "any job" can keep a roof over your head, but isn't it the job of the hiring managers like yourself to find the right fit for the right person in the right role at the right company? So why bother encouraging jobseekers to take "any job" that pays the bills? The quality of work will suffer in a tainted employer-employee relationship. Furthermore, Gen-Yers have a knack for seeking opportunity in even the dankest of places--like basements. We idolize founders of companies like eBay (founded in a living room in 1995), Google (founded in a garage) and Facebook (started in a dorm room). This recession will teach Gen-Yers that just because you're unemployed, doesn't mean you can't start a side business or a freelance career. We're open to those possibilities. Thanks for the enthusiastic response, Lisa.

I would argue that the Gen-Y attitudes in this post were built on the ground broken by Gen-Xers. Gen-X had more flexibility and advocated for work-life balance freedom more than any previous generation. Gen-Y isn’t breaking ground, we’re just building on opportunities created by recent generations.

Sure, “any job” can keep a roof over your head, but isn’t it the job of the hiring managers like yourself to find the right fit for the right person in the right role at the right company? So why bother encouraging jobseekers to take “any job” that pays the bills? The quality of work will suffer in a tainted employer-employee relationship.

Furthermore, Gen-Yers have a knack for seeking opportunity in even the dankest of places–like basements. We idolize founders of companies like eBay (founded in a living room in 1995), Google (founded in a garage) and Facebook (started in a dorm room). This recession will teach Gen-Yers that just because you’re unemployed, doesn’t mean you can’t start a side business or a freelance career. We’re open to those possibilities.

]]> By: Lisa http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-302 Lisa Mon, 05 Apr 2010 18:00:23 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-302 Eric, you assume that other generations (like my own beloved X) couldn't wait be be constrained, girdled (literally), imprisoned, devalued and given telegraph machines. You're not breaking new ground here. I've been told for most of my career that I have a problem with authority so don't think this is coming from a worker bee, but in this crappy economy there are more experienced and amenable job seekers out there so you might need to re-evaluate your creature comforts in exchange for staying out of your parent's basement. Conformity ain't a bad thing until you're proven your value and are then given leniency, a company phone and a handsome paycheck. BTW I've spent my career until now working in advertising under all of your desired conditions but when the client was in the office you knew you were required to don actual clothes and bow. Just sayin'. Good luck to you. Eric, you assume that other generations (like my own beloved X) couldn’t wait be be constrained, girdled (literally), imprisoned, devalued and given telegraph machines. You’re not breaking new ground here.
I’ve been told for most of my career that I have a problem with authority so don’t think this is coming from a worker bee, but in this crappy economy there are more experienced and amenable job seekers out there so you might need to re-evaluate your creature comforts in exchange for staying out of your parent’s basement. Conformity ain’t a bad thing until you’re proven your value and are then given leniency, a company phone and a handsome paycheck.
BTW I’ve spent my career until now working in advertising under all of your desired conditions but when the client was in the office you knew you were required to don actual clothes and bow.
Just sayin’. Good luck to you.

]]> By: Eric Leist http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Eric Leist Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:06:27 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-245 Traci - Thanks for your comment. In my book, you can have honorary Gen-Y status. Marsha - "corporate lockstep" <-- I love that term. It's a very accurate description. Traci – Thanks for your comment. In my book, you can have honorary Gen-Y status.

Marsha – “corporate lockstep” <– I love that term. It's a very accurate description.

]]> By: Marsha Keeffer http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Marsha Keeffer Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:02:40 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-244 Here's the deal - most people today want what you've listed - in one way or another (Chris notwithstanding). Boomer, X or Y - doesn't matter. Smarts, adaptability and the drive to closure are wins. Yes - Gen Y isn't going to put up with the corporate lockstep. And that's great. Nice piece, Eric. Here’s the deal – most people today want what you’ve listed – in one way or another (Chris notwithstanding). Boomer, X or Y – doesn’t matter. Smarts, adaptability and the drive to closure are wins.

Yes – Gen Y isn’t going to put up with the corporate lockstep. And that’s great.

Nice piece, Eric.

]]> By: Traci http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Traci Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:18:58 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-238 I think I was "born" too early. I identify with all of the items mentioned in your post but my drivers license disagrees unfortunately. So like it or not I will never be a member of Gen Y. The most important aspect in my humble opinion is the awareness employers MUST have moving forward that we are no longer an army of like minded (interests) people. Your final comment in the paragraph above is spot on--things as we know it MUST change. I think I was “born” too early. I identify with all of the items mentioned in your post but my drivers license disagrees unfortunately. So like it or not I will never be a member of Gen Y. The most important aspect in my humble opinion is the awareness employers MUST have moving forward that we are no longer an army of like minded (interests) people. Your final comment in the paragraph above is spot on–things as we know it MUST change.

]]> By: Jason Davis http://hrthinktank.net/business/harnessing-the-gen-y-beast/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Jason Davis Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:49:45 +0000 http://hrthinktank.net/?p=580#comment-237 Chris, thanks for commenting. When I saw the topic of Eric's guest post I figured you might stop in. Personally, I can see both sides of this debate. I think that stereotypes and inferences can be made about any sample based on common characteristics shared by the majority (or even the minority, if they are visible enough). Eric uses the word 'defining', which I think is a little strong, but I do think that there are common characteristics to various generations, as well as endless examples of individuals who do not fit into the stereotype. No one is right. Everyone is right. Whatever. I think that what's important is that companies need to understand that to really affect talent attraction and retention of key performers, that the combination of their culture, incentive structure, and other motivators needs to satisfy a very different set of people, because if everyone truly did fit a stereotypical profile, well, compensation & incentive teams sure would have an easy job wouldn't they! Chris, thanks for commenting. When I saw the topic of Eric’s guest post I figured you might stop in.

Personally, I can see both sides of this debate. I think that stereotypes and inferences can be made about any sample based on common characteristics shared by the majority (or even the minority, if they are visible enough). Eric uses the word ‘defining’, which I think is a little strong, but I do think that there are common characteristics to various generations, as well as endless examples of individuals who do not fit into the stereotype. No one is right. Everyone is right. Whatever.

I think that what’s important is that companies need to understand that to really affect talent attraction and retention of key performers, that the combination of their culture, incentive structure, and other motivators needs to satisfy a very different set of people, because if everyone truly did fit a stereotypical profile, well, compensation & incentive teams sure would have an easy job wouldn’t they!

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