Posts Tagged: young professionals
Stop bashing Gen Y workers!
Posted in Economic Crisis Generation Y 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…)
What young professionals need to know about the current financial crisis
Posted in Career Advice Finances Generation Y Job Hunting Recommended Resources on March 19, 2008 at 11:35 am
One of my “absolute must” tips for young professionals is to read a national newspaper every day. It’s essential to be knowledgeable about current events that might affect your career prospects, especially if the news is relevant to your particular industry.
For anyone working or job hunting today, the state of the U.S. economy is one of — if not the #1 — issue to know about. Luckily, today’s New York Times features a great article summarizing the current financial crisis in understandable language. The article, “Can’t Grasp the Credit Crisis? Join the Club,” by David Leonhardt, answers this complicated question:
So how is it that a mess concentrated in one part of the mortgage business — subprime loans — has frozen the credit markets, sent stock markets gyrating, caused the collapse of Bear Stearns, left the economy on the brink of the worst recession in a generation and forced the Federal Reserve to take its boldest action since the Depression?
As one of my favorite newscasters, Pat Kiernan of NY1, said this morning during my favorite segment, “In the Papers,” if you only read one story on the financial crisis, read this one.
