Comments on: You Should Learn What I Learned From 2 Millenials

By: Morgan Hoogvelt

Morgan Hoogvelt — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:59:01 +0000

@ Keith – no earthly clue what you are talking about.

@Rajpreet – I have seen where managers/departments throw “busy” or crappy work to the newbies. I think for the case of the millenial, you are right – need to give interesting work to keep engagement and gather fresh ideas.

Secondly, I agree with the mindset you have of always looking for a job and I agree with that mindset. Our corporate culture has shifted drastically from where our parents stayed with one company for years and then were rewarded in the end. You and I have nothing to look forward to for staying in one place forever, other than being criticized in the end for doing so.

I would caution you however, when you make a move…make it a strategic career move. We all need to make moves that will increase our learning, responsibility and earnings. Don’t make a move out or boredum or just because. I see nothing wrong with changing jobs every 3-4 years to advance yourself.

Good luck out there – Morgan

By: Rajpreet Heir

Rajpreet Heir — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 18:49:22 +0000

Glad you mention how Millennials want interesting work. We want to be challenged and like Magi and Kacey, we are willing to do this from day 1. Something else to take into account is that we Millennials are always looking for a job, even when we are in one. So unlike previous generations that stay in one job for years, Millennials will jump to a new job if won over.

By: Keith Halperin

Keith Halperin — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:07:20 +0000

Thanks, Morgan. “I had the opportunity to sit once and hear the characteristics of each generation.”
1) You are one person- that’s a highly subjective result and a very small sample size.
2) What were your prior expectations to speaking with these folks? Were you aware you had any prior expectations?
3) What’s the difference between a “generalization” and a “stereotype”?
4) Here are two “boomers”:
a) 54 year-old liberal Jewish recruiter who lives in San Francisco, California and
b) 63 year-old conservative Southern Baptist homemaker in Valdosta, Georgia.
Aren’t our differences stronger than the fact that we were assigned to the same arbitrary generational cohort?

Cheers,

Keith “Not the Georgia Homemaker” Halperin

By: Morgan Hoogvelt

Morgan Hoogvelt — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 16:16:33 +0000

Thanks for the comments and feedback. If you read the article in full, I noted in there a couple times that the information I spelled out is relevant and applicable to anyone…

- “Doing such holds true for hiring professionals at all levels, not just in hiring millenials.”

- “but these same principles can be used to lead and manage all employees.”

And moreover, you can’t take the word “millennial” out of this article because some of the practices I used are only relevant to new college grads like an internship.

And Keith, I had the opportunity to sit once and hear the characteristics of each generation. Personally, I fall in the Generation X category and everything listed about that generation is right on with me. Perhaps it’s a coincidence and perhaps it is even unfair to generalize generations.

My current role fits my mold to a T and everything that is “generalized” about Generation X – so there has to be some truth to the “generalizations” made.

The generalizations (X,Y, Millenials) that are made are wide and pretty close to being relevant. Therefore, if we as leaders and managers can recognize that and manage and lead to it – we, you…can be be much more successful.

By: Kent Stones

Kent Stones — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 19:51:46 +0000

I completely agree with Keith and Mel. This is a great article, but applies to anyone. While there are some generational differences by a matter of degree, I generally find that there are universal human truths about our careers and life outside of work. I admire a young person that has grace and poise, and asks thoughtful questions. I also admire a 52-year-old (like me) that does as well.

By: Mel Kleiman Csp

Mel Kleiman Csp — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:11:56 +0000

Read the article and take the word Millennial out of it and you have an even better article. Who would not want to hire a person no matter what the generation you showed the poise and proffesionalism that these two applicat.

On a second note who does not want to be treat with respect and have challenges and being cut a little slack once and a while.

By: Keith Halperin

Keith Halperin — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:40:32 +0000

Thanks, Morgan. I think we should stop trying to characterize a group whose membership isn’t clearly defined (who exactly are “Millennials” or “Gen Yers”?) and runs into the tens of millions by more than a few overall characteristics like: they are young, they are likely to have a lot of debt, and close to a majority of them aren’t working in FT jobs. Beyond that, I think you need to either take individuals as they are (some really good, some really bad, most in between), or do detailed psychographic datamining on tens of millions of Facebook and LI profiles….

Happy Holidays,

Keith

By: Rick Gillis

Rick Gillis — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:38:27 +0000

Morgan, I agree with Lynda. The ‘bad ones’ from any group are the ones who lead the news cycle. There are a lot of great, motivated young people looking to work their way up the corporate ladder or create their own ladder. Further agreeing with Lynda–I promote to mature job seekers that they give all due respect to any person younger than themselves they might interview with or work for. Someone believed in them enough to give them the responsibility.

By: Lynda Fraser

Lynda Fraser — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:05:12 +0000

Bravo! Great article to read. I also think that millenials get a bad rap – unfounded more often than not. I think there is much we can learn from them; perhaps things we too once thought were important but forgot as we got caught up in ‘stuff’over time.