Gen Y, Gen X and the Baby Boomers – @ Work Together

With the Millennial generation being the newcomers to the workplace, the 21st century is witnessing the coming together of these three generation at workplace. How different would it be working with different generations?

Should the new Generation @ Work be treated differently by the Employers?
A recent report cited that excessive workload and poor promotion policies at workplace are making the younger employees most dissatisfied. It says, “These days, the lowest levels of job satisfaction are among younger workers, the survey found. Only 39 percent of respondents aged 25 and younger said they liked their current jobs — the lowest level in the survey’s 20-year history — compared to 45 percent for workers between 45 and 54.”
What is reason for this dissatisfaction? Is it only amongst the younger age group workers or trickles down to the generation X and baby boomers? Interestingly, this report says, “By contrast, job-satisfaction levels are highest among older workers, with nearly half of all respondents between 55 and 64, and 65 and over, feeling satisfied by their employment situation.

The employers have to change and evolve with the demands and work requirements of the newcomers to the workforce to help increase their retention rate. The new generation at work seeks challenges and a place that encourages growth and experimentation. They are risk takers and would tend to move on fast if they do not see much value in their present work. They’ll be walking out of the door more often as has been seen before if they do not see value in their work or are being recognized enough, for sure employee retention would be a big problem in future that the present employers have to be proactive about.

The Millennial generation has to work in tandem with the generations Xers and the baby boomer generation, also with a diverse working environment that the present organizations have worldwide, the tolerant side of all working generations are to test. The new generation needs to be introduced to accept mentoring and information exchange with the generation Xers and baby boomers. Corporate career coaching and mentoring process can be beneficial in the short and long run in retaining the multi-faceted talent of the Millennials.

I feel so positive about this new generation Y at work, they will herald a new era of impressive tech and financial growth for all economies and since the present generation has begun on the tasks for healing our planet after all this damage done, also the new generation at work will have a major contribution towards creating and implementing ideas around the global issues concerning environment and alternative energy solutions.

What should the employers do to retain you (happily) at the workplace?

Organization

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Career Directions for the Generation Y – the Newcomers to the Workplace

Career Changes for a Millennial
At present, an average American is changing jobs around 8-12 times in his/her lifetime, and 3-4 career changes to say the least. I foresee a more volatile and fluid career path for the generation millennial. If a whole set of millennials are undergoing such massive changes in their career, coaching is a must for them to find the right career direction.

What is to be noted for this generation is one with an easy going attitude, most of them would not think about having a “5 year plan” or an answer to the question “what do you want to do 5 years from now?”
So the possibility is huge that the generation millennial workforce would be in and out of work and / or taking up further college education with some work experience and / or would be the ones taking longer breaks from work.

But before they step into the workforce, what about the vision of a satisfying and fulfilling career? How aware are they of the different career paths and how diligent are they about finding one that suits them the best?

We have recent evidence that career coaching is a requirement for the generation millennial at work, in a recent interview in March telecast of Spotlight 25 where Willow Bay interviewed many 25 yr old women on what they thought about their career and life in the 21st century and had an interesting point to make:
She says: So many have told me that there’s no road map for where they’re going and that a little guidance would go a long way.

The millennials would be looking for those mentors – career coaches who provide them the means to discover themselves, they do not want to be told what to do. This is huge advantage coaching has over counseling.

Mentoring and Guidance – The Stepping Stones to Success
This generation (also known as Generation Next or Nexters) has been the most multi faceted in terms of having more exposure to the educational, extra-curricular and cultural activities their entire student lives; they realize the importance of a focused learning approach. They have had mentors and teachers all along their activities and once they realize the importance of career coaching, it would be indispensable for this generation.

No matter how smart and confident this new generation is they need personal guidance, they have been the ones who have seen their parents work in high tech industry and also with all tech tools under their arms, they have the capabilities of making it great in their careers but the first step, the direction is lacking. That is where the career coaches come in and have to be sensitive in understanding their different needs and ways to be coached.

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