There’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?

YES I PASSED MY FINAL EXAM WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111

Still reeling from the whirlwind of yesterday. Woke up at 3 am to check my results, couldn’t sleep after that being all super excited and slowly adjusting to the reality of passing. So I went for a morning jog. Went to office, tried not to grin too much. Work took backstage that day. Everyone’s minds was tuned to the exam results wavelength.

Then there was that email blast through the company management announcing the qualifying people. There goes my hopes of being under the radar.

Although it was 80% happy, there was the 20% awkwardness. Awkward, because some didn’t make it. Awkward, because to paraphrase my colleague, I look like a new antique in a curio shop. Awkward, because there’s a little resentment mixed in the adulations, I guess.

The evening ended with me distributing pastries around the department. It was something I wanted to do. Unlike say, dinner treats, hehe. That will probably come much later, after I get my dinner treats from the previously qualifying people who have yet to treat. I’m calculative that way :).

And finally, to wrap up the day, went for a housewarming gathering - where my pass was also celebrated by bearing (some of) the brunt of the crazy drinking games.

Just back, it’s been like 6 hours of sleep in 48 hours, and I’m pooped.

I really must thank God for guiding me along this path. Others see like it’s easy pie/me being good at taking exams and all that, but I know deep down it’s actually God opening those doors for me. Really. Things like having a workable foundation in English (my other languages suck), interest in mathy stuff, loving computers, having to go through a business course and being forced to polish my comm skills, working in a company heavily focused on exam progress, having the support of fellow exam takers, supportive parents, not to mention few burdens/commitments. All factors that somehow came together.

And just yesterday I had experienced a happy coincidence.

I wonder what’s in store next. But surely, there’s one thing to do.

It’s been a real long time since my last post. It’s like my life is on hold.

Delayed gratification is a good practice.

But it’s flawed in that it assumes

1. You will get the end result eventually. What if you die? What if circumstances change?

2. You are in control of the end result. If what you do is inconsequential, then why bother?

3. You will be gratified at the end result. What if you find that it’s just your hyped up expectations by waiting way too long?

Also, it’s easy to confuse gratification with opportunity.

If opportunity is within hand’s reach, do you grab at it? Or do you delay, thinking it’ll come back another day, I’ll take it slow then?

Opportunity won’t come knocking the same way tomorrow.

Time waits for no man.

Should I delay my gratification? Or is it actually opportunity?

Goodness, it’ll be an arduous week of waiting ahead.