Posts Tagged: Millennials
What I Wish I’d Known in College
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials on August 23, 2010 at 9:00 am
Happy Monday, everyone! As you can imagine, I spent this weekend thinking a lot about the New York Times Magazine cover story, “What Is It About 20-Somethings?” I’ve submitted a Letter to the Editor and will post it here if the Times doesn’t publish it. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your comments here or on Twitter.
In the meantime, on to my newest post. Looking forward to your comments!
What I Wish I’d Known in College
As someone who spends my days interacting with college students and thinking about their career prospects, I often think back to my own days on campus. I’ll admit that I experience a mix of nostalgia, relief and regret. I enjoyed college, but I also struggled to find direction during those four years.
While I know I can’t change the past — and my struggles transitioning from college to career led me to the work that I do now — there are definitely some things I would have done differently. For what it’s worth, here are three things I wish I’d known in college that I know now, in my 30s:
1. Great teachers and mentors are rarer than you think. I wish I’d taken classes in college based solely on the amazingness of the professors, regardless of the subject of the classes they taught. If there is a “star” teacher at your school, take his or her class, even if you just audit it from the back row. No matter what that person teaches, his or her passion will inspire you.
2. It’s okay to fail (or get a D). Those who’ve read my book, Getting from College to Career, know my deep, dark, terrible secret: that I got a D on my first test in college. It was a calculus test — a subject I’d hesitated to sign up for in the first place — and I thought my academic life was O-V-E-R.
Sure, I moved on, but I made many future course decisions based on which classes I thought I would do well in. What a stupid thing to do! Imagine all of the interesting classes I never considered because I thought I might not get a good grade. Never let fear hold you back from trying something new or different.
3. College is the beginning of your career. A few years after graduating from college I had an appointment with a career coach because I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do with my life. She asked me to describe some of my “peak” experiences, and one of the experiences I shared was my role as a Freshman Counselor (my university’s equivalent of a Resident Advisor). I absolutely loved the position — advising students, mentoring them and learning about their perspectives.
“Why don’t you make a career of that?” she asked.
I can honestly say that the thought had never occurred to me. For some reason, I thought that job was just “college stuff” and not relevant to the Real World. Of course now I know that being a Freshman Counselor was my first step to starting the business I have today.
As you think about your career, don’t discount all of the things you are doing as a student — your coursework, volunteering, extra curriculars, sports, social activities and more — and think about how these might be the seeds that will grow into a future career.
Guest Post: Jobs That Matter for Millennials
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials Getting from College to Career Job Search Tips Recommended Career Resources on June 21, 2010 at 9:35 am
This is a guest post by Heather Krasna, author of the new book, Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service:
Recent surveys show that Millennials want to make a difference in the world. The National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 27 percent of graduating seniors in 2009 plan to work for nonprofit groups or government. Another survey by the Partnership for Public Service found that 90 percent would be interested in a federal government job. On top of that, the recent Heartland Monitor Poll found that 55 percent of Millennials are seeking long-term job security.
Many of the jobs that make a difference in the world, like those in environmental, social services, education, community development, religion, international development or the arts, are found only in the nonprofit sector or government. Some of the most interesting and fulfilling jobs—like wildlife biologists, foreign service officers, community development specialists, social workers, disaster management specialists, or community organizers and advocates, can only be found in government or nonprofit organizations.
Another reason to consider public service work is that many of these jobs are the most stable in a down economy. For instance, the layoff rate for government was only 0.6 percent in January 2009, compared with 2.1 percent in the private sector.
But the job search for nonprofit or government entities can be very different from the typical ones you might have been prepared for by your college career center. For instance, government agencies may ask you to write essays about your work experience and how it relates to a job, or you may have to take a civil service test. You have to follow all instructions carefully in order to be considered, and a normal resume may not work. For a nonprofit organization, you should highlight your volunteer experience and leadership, and make sure to network as much as possible into the often tight-knit nonprofit community.
Interested in learning more about public service careers? Heather’s new book, Jobs That Matter: Find a Stable, Fulfilling Career in Public Service (© 2010 JIST Works), shares the secrets you need to land a fulfilling job in public service. For more tips from Heather, visit www.heatherkrasna.com.
New Research on Millennials and the Great Recession
Posted in Future of Careers Generation Y/Millennials on May 13, 2010 at 12:46 pm
On Tuesday night I attended a dinner hosted by the Atlantic Media Company in Washington, DC, to discuss the results of the brand new Allstate-National Journal Heartland Monitor Poll, which offers a look at the economic experience of the Millennial generation.
There were about 20 of us at the table, including representatives from government, think tanks, media outlets and labor unions. The discussion was moderated by Ron Brownstein, who is not only a well-respected journalist and father of a Millennial, but, I learned, is also a fellow fan of Lost. (Yes, he was careful to end the dinner before Tuesday night’s episode.)
Here are some of my main takeaways from the discussion and the poll:
Job security is trendy. One of the more surprising findings of the poll is that 55% of Millennials say their goal is long-term employment with a single employer. And, when asked to rank their most important workplace priorities, job security was number one (with money a close number two). Personally, I believe this will change as the economy improves. I just don’t see Gen Y-ers sticking with traditional career paths with all of the options and portable benefits available in the new economy. In fact, many of the dinner attendees joked that they don’t even want to work for their current employers for the rest of their careers.
Stop bashing Gen Y workers!
Posted in Gen Y Entrepreneurship Generation Y/Millennials Managing Generational Differences on January 18, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I try to read everything in the news about Generation Y and careers. This means I regularly find myself plodding through frustrating stories about how the Millennials are “entitled,” “coddled” and “disloyal.” Friday’s article on MSNBC.com is yet another maddening example.
When did the Baby Boomers mantra “Don’t trust anyone over 30” turn into “Don’t trust anyone under 30”?
Why, during the worst economy in over 60 years, would anyone tell our youngest workers—our future leaders—that they are “not special” and “woefully unprepared”? If we said this about any other type of worker, it would be discrimination. Why is it okay to bash young workers?
I acknowledge that many Millennials (those born in the 1980s and 90s) are not as prepared as previous generations when it comes to some very important areas of work, such as writing skills and professionalism. I would argue in return that they are significantly more prepared in such very important areas as technology and globalization.
And yes, many young workers like to change jobs frequently. But this is a natural and understandable result of growing up in a time of unprecedented economic expansion, the dot com revolution and rounds upon rounds of corporate downsizings. Millennials know they’ll never work at one company for 30 years and retire with a gold watch. They’re not disloyal; they’re realistic. And, when they find a company that has adapted to the new realities of the workforce, such as Zappos.com, they do stay. (more…)
Find your dream job: 12 career resolutions for 2009
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials Getting from College to Career Job Search Tips Personal Branding Resume Tips Social Media on December 28, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Reminder: I’m now answering job search and career questions as Career Contributor for ABC News on Campus. Submit your question here.
Every day is a new beginning, but a new calendar year offers a particularly great opportunity for fresh starts. This year more than ever, career-minded people are craving new opportunities and new strategies to carry out in January and beyond.
As you think about your plans and goals for 2009, here are 12 career-related resolutions to consider adding to your list.
1. I will do one thing every day to find a job or advance my career. Spend some time every day, even just five minutes, researching potential employers, reading advice articles, following up with people you’ve met, practicing for interviews or doing anything else to help your career prospects. Keep moving forward. Momentum matters.
2. I will update my resume once a month. Especially in an economic downturn, your resume needs to be ready to send at a moment’s notice. Make a note in your calendar to review this important document once a month to be sure it sells your skills and experience in the best possible way.
3. I will regularly review my online presence. While you’re keeping your resume up-to-date, review your online professional presence as well. Google your own name and make sure the results reflect the image you want to project. Many organizations are now relying on social networking sites like LinkedIn and Facebook for recruiting, so it’s quite likely your next employer will review your online profile before seeing your official resume.
Essential recession reading: 5 new articles for young job hunters
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials Getting from College to Career Internships Job Search Tips Recommended Career Resources Unemployment on December 18, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Yesterday I was a guest on NPR’s Talk of the Nation on the topic of “Where to Look for Jobs in the Recession.” Laurence Shatkin, author of 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs, and I shared our tips, and host Neal Conan took calls from listeners.
Many listeners shared upsetting stories of layoffs and difficulty landing new jobs, and many also offered suggestions on what companies and industries are still hiring. We discussed opportunities in healthcare, education, accounting, trucking, energy, defense and more. Listen to the full program here.
We also talked about the fact that job hunters today have to cast a very wide net in their jobs searches. To that end, here are several recent articles that offer an abundance of suggestions, resources and opportunities: (more…)
Economy got you down? Move to Australia (seriously!)
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials Getting from College to Career Job Search Tips Recommended Career Resources on November 18, 2008 at 5:00 am
Looking for an alternative to job hunting in the U.S.? It’s now easier than ever to work, study and travel in Australia.
College students have been studying abroad for decades, but in today’s increasingly global economy, international experience is becoming more and more valuable to employers. When you add the fact that job prospects in the U.S. are not exactly great right now, you may determine that it’s the right time to consider working or studying overseas. If so, I encourage you to add the Land Down Under to your list. New visa rules between the U.S. and Australia make it easier than ever.
This is a topic that’s close to my heart. After I graduated college in 1996, I studied and worked in Australia for two and-a-half years. It was an amazing, life-changing, career-enhancing experience (if you’re very, very nice to me, I might post embarrassing touristy photos of me petting kangaroos).
Because I was so far from home and surrounded by new opportunities, during my time in Australia I was able to experiment with different career interests, including working for a PR agency, a magazine, a city council and a film festival. As someone who was undecided about my career path out of college, living abroad was a great way to explore my options without feeling too much pressure. Plus, when I returned to the U.S., job interviewers were impressed with my international experience.
Want to learn more about Australia and opportunities to travel, work, study and live there? Visit MySpace and add MySydney as a friend. You’ll find very helpful info on getting a Work and Holiday visa, going to school, getting a job and having fun Down Under. You can also enter a contest to win a dream working vacation in Sydney. If I weren’t over 30, I’d enter myself!
Have any questions about working, studying or living in Australia? Please ask — I’d love to share my personal experience.
On FastCompany.com: Gen Y and the Presidential Election
Posted in Generation Y/Millennials on November 5, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Today’s post first appeared on my FastCompany.com Next Generation Career Advice Blog.
World, meet Generation Y. If you weren’t aware of them yet, you couldn’t miss them on Election Day.
Barack Obama’s victory is the biggest and most inspiring example yet of the growing influence of Generation Y (born approx. 1980–2000) in the U.S. and the world.
I witness this every day when I speak on college campuses and chat with students and young professionals in person, by text message and on Facebook (where Obama has over 2.5 million fans): Gen Y is smart, diverse, energized, socially and politically aware and able to use the Internet to do pretty much anything.
To learn more about how Generation Y took part in the election and helped to influence the outcome, check out the Youth Vote Blog and ABC News on Campus for blog posts, videos, photos and reflections by college students from all over the country and all across the political spectrum.
Of course, no matter which candidate you voted for and which generation you identify with, I think all Americans can be proud today to say:
We just made history.
On FastCompany.com: Interview with an international millennial
Posted in Career Advice for Young Professionals Generation Y/Millennials Job Search Tips on October 15, 2008 at 9:19 pm
Note: This blog post originally appeared on FastCompany.com.
As I travel around to universities this fall, I’m meeting more and more international students pursuing their college degrees in the United States. These students face unique challenges while job hunting, networking and building their careers.
For perspective on this experience, I asked Nuzhat M. Karim, Program Manager, University Relations, EMC², who grew up in Bangladesh, to answer some questions.
Q: Why did you decide to go to college in the US?
A: My grandfather (my mom’s father) and my father came to Texas A&M, College Station for their PhDs in the 70s, but they later moved back to Bangladesh. Then, all my maternal uncles, aunts and my brother moved to the U.S. for college and career. All the stories about the U.S. and the U.S. education system really made me want to come, too.
Q: What was most different or surprising about coming to university in the U.S.?
A: The biggest difference is the fact that a student can start college here without deciding what to major in and even change major multiple times if one wishes. (more…)
This week on FastCompany.com: Why Your Company Needs Millennials
Posted in Generation Y/Millennials Managing Generational Differences on September 23, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Hope you’ll check out my post this week on FastCompany.com: “Why Your Company Needs Millennials: 5 Reasons to Love Gen Y”
It’s no secret that Generation Y workers (a.k.a. Millennials) don’t exactly have the best reputation in the workplace. Perhaps you’ve heard some of the following comments made about this generation, born in the 1980s and ‘90s:
“They don’t want to pay their dues.”
“They act so entitled.”
“All they want to do is play on Facebook.”
No stereotype is ever 100% true, and lots of people have good things to say about today’s young workers, but these negative perceptions are definitely out there.
Do Millennials have a lot to learn? Yeah, probably. Will Millennials outgrow their quirks? Maybe. But my belief is that companies that act now to take advantage of Gen Y’s strengths and help them overcome their weaknesses will have a major talent advantage today and into the future.
Here are five reasons you need Millennials at your company right now…
