Twentysomething
August 14th, 2010There’s this generational gap thing, whereby the Gen X do not understand what Gen Y want. Especially at the workplace. So there’s all the training and trying to understand the Gen Y. Then the Gen X-ers think all sorts of bad things about the Gen Y people.
As a member of Gen Y, we were brought up to think silly things like “if work is fun, it’s not work”, “you are special”, “having a strong opinion is a good thing”, “believe in yourself and you can do it!”, “be everything you want to be”, “question everything”. We are a well pampered lot.
Also, due to much exposure to the internets earlier on, and with this much information at our fingertips, means that we can compare, we can learn from the best, instead of sitting as a frog in the proverbial well.
Hence the hyper-expectations thing going on with Gen Y.
Really, it’s quite simple I think.
What do Gen Y want that is really easy to offer? Being a Gen Y here are my thoughts:
1. I want my opinions to be valued. I want someone to listen to me. Not speak down on me, but not to the extent of being all buddy with me as well. I want to be understood. I want to be recognized.
2. I may sometimes go too far and challenge the way to do things. But I always listen to reason. Just because you are the boss, doesn’t mean you are right. I want to be convinced, not coerced.
3. In turn, I will reciprocate. I want to understand. I want someone to look up to. I want someone to admire so much that I feel that working OT to the wee hours of the night for this person is well worth it. My respect is not easy to earn, but once earned you can guarantee my absolute loyalty.
(Contrast this with loyalty to a company, which is the last thing on Gen Y’s minds.)
4. I am not easily controlled by the traditional methods of money/status/power/authority.
5. However, I am really quite naive and gullible. Just push the right buttons.
Small things like letting people take leave in lieu of weekend overtime, treating them to an occasional dinner, doing stuff with their family, finding occasions for team get-togethers eg birthdays, a well-stocked pantry, being flexible with working hours.
Even the smallest of smallest things, like casual friday, business cards - says a lot about how the company values its people.
It’s all in the little details.
6. I am hungry for skills and experience.
If you train me up, you think you are making me susceptible to leaving.
However if you train me up well enough, I would stay just because I think there’s much more training to come.
* * *
In summary, Gen Y-ers just want employers to be more considerate. Is that really too much to ask?

