• Many firms have replaced traditional pension plans with more
portable retirement plans, reducing some of the financial risk of
frequent job changes
• The Internet makes it easier than ever before to find out about
other job options
• The executive recruiter industry has also mushroomed in recent
years
• Often your network(not your resume)gets you jobs
• You don’t know what you like until you do it
• Your talent is desperately needed
• Get a substantial raise and title upgrade. When you job-hop, the
typical increase in income is 20 to 30 percent. Enough said!
Career experts say that today’s trend of shorter job tenure has its
roots in the downsizing wave of the late 1980s and early 1990s,
which shattered many people’s expectations of lifetime employment. Then maybe the answer lies in understanding the eras,
managing across generations and understanding how to communicate considering the generation characteristics of Boomers,
Gen X-ers and Millennials (Gen Y-ers)
We explore the generation characteristics and motivators by
exploring:
• Employment Expectations
• Work Ethic / Loyalty
Generation X. Born between 1965 - 1977
i. A cross between the hierarchy embracing Boomers and the
team driven Millennials
ii. Gen X-ers have grown up with corporate downsizing, massive
layoffs, governmental scandal, and come from two income families.
iii. Much more comfortable with technology, diversity and global
awareness than any previous generation.
iv. One of the first generations to benefit from easier world travel
and access to world-wide current events.
A hands-off attitude often works best when supervising, mentoring or working with this generation. Gen X-ers value freedom and
autonomy to achieve desired goals and often prefer to work alone
rather than in teams. They dislike “meetings about meetings” and
don’t want or need face time.
Don’t expect blind loyalty. If their current firm does not provide
them with these opportunities, they will not think twice to move
elsewhere.
Millennial (Generation Y) - Born 1978-1987
Millennials have the reputation of being the toughest generation
to manage. They grew up in a culturally diverse environment,
tech-savvy, enthusiastic, self-centered, confident, well networked
and achievement-oriented. One of the best educated generations in history. Their busy schedules and expanded educational
opportunities is where their confidence and need for variety and
challenge comes from.
Millennials do not expect to “pay their dues.” They expect their
opinions t