Over the last couple weeks I have been talking about the generations.

My Maine keynote on the topic was covered by writer Jim Baumer:

{Live Blog of Generation NeXt Keynote}.

I also did a pre-keynote interview with the gang from JobsInME.com:

When I talk about this topic I talk about my own experience set.  I talk about My Generation.

The Millenials dominate this conversation. For good reason.  They are about twice the size of my generation and coming of age in a time of accelerated transformation and technological change. They bring a whole new set of expectations about an evolved work experience that is simply going to require organizations to advance work style design.

That is part of the story.  Ironically, my generation is incredibly suited to this new world of work.   Ferociously independent, adaptive, creative and resourceful, we are prepared to lead through a time of disruptive change. We also like to invent and don’t expect anyone to take care of us.  We realized quite some time ago that we would be responsible for our own career trajectory and wouldn’t be relying on a company to mange that for us.

A simple review of some recent leading Gen X business writing and thinking  provides an interesting prompt for those clinging on to the traditional corporate structure and hierarchy.  Have a look:

Escape from Cubicle Nation
The 4 Hour Work Week
Career Renegade
Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It
Crush It! Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Cash In On Your Passion

It will clearly prove more challenging for traditional companies to optimize and engage a generation of escape artists.

The generations do want many of the same things.  But I can tell you both from my own experience set and from the research that we define them quite differently.  I’ll shed some light on a few of those differences, the next generation drivers and what to do about them in my dinner keynote tonight at the AT&T Generations & Leadership event.

They asked me to keynote dinner.  They asked me if I could be funny.  This could be interesting.

Just don’t call me a slacker!

Posted in Employee Engagement, Leadership, Recruiting, Social Media, Uncategorized

Tags: Generation Next, Generation X, Generation Y, Generations, Millenials

Remember Graduation Day?  Hope…Optimism…Opportunity….recently my intern, Lora Berthiaume graduated from St. Thomas University…congratulations Lora!  As she embarks on launching her career in advertising/marketing/communications I am fortunate that Lora will be spending just a little more time with me this summer…she is a Rock Star ready to contribute significantly to the right fit employer!  We chatted recently about her transition from campus to career and how she and her peers felt about making the leap.  Bottom line, its still a tough market for millenials entering the workforce and as the data shows new grads simply have fewer opportunities and are accepting jobs for less compensation.  Lora had this to say as she approached her Graduation Day:

When the anticipation of putting on that special cap became reality the anxiety set in. College life is over. We have been waiting for this exciting day since we were little, and now that the time has come, we wish it would be years ahead of us still. Although I can vouch for many that we are all thrilled to not have to spend endless hours at the library, or eat the terrible cafeteria food, it is a mutual understanding that we are scared. This is a turning point in all of our lives, one that most of us are not prepared for. The biggest fear of entering “the real world” is finding a job.

The lucky select few have full-time jobs, many have internships, but most of us are still in the job-hunting process. Yes the economy may be turning around and there are a few more jobs opening up, but it is still not the prime time to be looking for that first career.

Job-hunting should be considered a full time job itself. Like most of my graduating class, I have used every job seeker service and networking connection out there. It takes time and a whole lot of effort to find a job. The main site my classmates and I use to find available jobs is the University of St. Thomas Career Development website. Next on the list is going on companies’ websites you are interested in and looking at their job postings. LinkedIn is also a popular tool. A non-virtual path most of us have taken is attending career fairs around the Twin Cities area, as well as organizations such as Advertising Federation and American Marketing Association, which allow you to network.

Many available jobs right now require numerous years of experience in that field. It gets a bit discouraging when you find a job description that fits you perfectly, until is says 5 years experience required. How are we supposed to gain experience when entry-level jobs are scarce?  That is why so many of my friends (and I) are doing internships post college in an effort to quickly build more of that necessary and relevant experience.

Ideally, the company at that first “real job” holds an energetic, welcoming atmosphere and possesses an innovative and unique culture. Getting fully submerged in a company right away allows one to learn the quickest, so the more fast-paced, the better.

With all the fear and anxiety aside, it will be an amazing feeling to receive the diploma we have all worked so hard to get. I know my major in Marketing and minor in Advertising will lead me to the perfect position in my career field. My passion is a mixture of business and creative work. I am diversified from marketing plans all the way to graphic design, and would love to do anything in between. No matter what opportunity arises, I know I will succeed.

And I’ll be spending this summer of transition supporting Ryan Estis & Associates and their growing speaking/consulting business.  Life as a start-up intern. isn’t so bad!

Posted in Recruiting

Tags: Generation Y, Millenial