This picture describes very well the brake between the generations. How baby boomers and generation X perceive us is diametrically opposed to how our generation (Y) perceives herself. What causes this break? Millennials consider themselves as ambitious people, always looking for awesome opportunities and putting work-life balance first but Boomers see us as lazy, unfaithful (at work) people. This clash is very pronounced in work. Employers are happy about the technology skills we have. This capacity of having an active life on social Medias gets us to be more collaborative and friendly with others. This is certainly a plus in a work place! But our technology skills might be related to work ethic. Maybe the lack of ethic online is linked to the lack of ethic at work.
(I am not able to insert links in word, so here is the link:
http://www.afr.com/p/australia2-%20%200/gen_millennials_and_the_lazy_myth_YQaRFOQubRSVprOUkUAppJ
Who is the responsible?
Who raised this generations? Boomers Our parents? Boomers! This philosophy of life was transmitted by boomers, so why a constant criticism of gen Y is medias? In my opinion, Boomers didn’t predict the “collateral damages” of the education provided to Gen Y. The main value transmitted by boomers is personal growth. Millenials think that “family comes first and works must be meaningful”. As a Gen Y adult, I am living the same dilemmas.
But Boomers are responsible of our higher expectations about life. This comic explain it well: http://www.waitbutwhy.com/2013/09/why-generation-y-yuppies-are-unhappy.html?m=1
I do not agree on the point that Millennials are selfish and only think about their success. Yes, they are ambitious, want to make money and go far in life. It is normal, they were told education is an investment that would pay off, they have huge debt and the economy is bad: They are optimistic, but need to adopt this philosophy if they want to survive in the jungle of work. But when it’s the time to be united, they are. They clame social justice and a fairer world! They fight for movement s like LGBT, the immigration reform, International human rights and environment issues.
Maybe Gen y does not go volunteering on a regular basis, but they are concerned about society and are trying to make their life better. My daddy always told me, if you want to change the world, start by changing yours. Gen Y understands it really well and they participate in movements. The best way to bring their ambitions at work and their need of helping others is service learning. For me, it makes more sense, because I can use my skills to help someone! But most of all, it must not be obligatory. In high school,I studied in The B.I (international baccalaureate) program and we were obliged to do volunteer work. I saw a lot of students complaining about it and hating volunteering.
it's the time to... 